Tranfer News - Sidwell To Villa

There are reports that an agreement has already been reached between Aston Villa and Chelsea to bring Steve Sidwell to the Birmingham club. Martin O'Neil is also reported to be interested in Justin Hoyte of Arsenal.

Steve Sidwell made only one appearance in the league for us since January, and his lack of playing opportunities is obvious because of the surplus requirements in midfield that boasts of Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Michael Ballack, Mikel John Obi and Claude Makekele. He joined Chelsea from Reading on a free transfer last season and has helped only boost the squad numbers only.

A fee in the region of 7 million pounds is thought to be the price of taking the ex-Reading man away from Stamford Bridge. Whether Sidwell will be acquired as a potential replacement for Liverpool target Gareth Barry remains to be seen. Two goals that he got against the Villains in February last year demonstrated what he could do and was possibly what alerted Martin O'Neill to him and he's been a rumored target since then.

Meanwhile, Mexican youngster Giovani Dos Santos who is currently playing for Barcelona is also linked with Chelsea. He signed off his first full season in the Blaugrana first team with a hat-trick in an entertaining encounter at Real Murcia. His father and agent have irked Barça by continuously asking for more money but Dos Santos is reported to have admitted that his first choice would be to stay in the Catalan club. It would be interesting to see how the situation develops.