Aston Villa set to offer Celtic £10m for Aiden

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is set to offer Celtic £10million for Aiden McGeady, according to reports in the press today.

The claim may not be true, of course, but it is increasingly looking as though this will be the week when the 24-year-old Ireland international's future is decided. Manchester City are expected to make a £25million offer for Villa's James Milner atny day and, while there is no "sell-to-buy" policy place at the Midlands club, such a large amount of cash coming in will give O'Neill a degree of freedom.

A cynic may suggest it looks like a deal has already been done. It is unlikely Neil Lennon would have admitted he sensed Aiden wanted to leave the club if he thought there was a chance he would stay, while Stiliyan Petrov's comments last week about what Aiden would bring to VIlla seemed a bit...odd.

While there is certainly an argument to be made for Aiden staying at the club - especially when there is no guarantee the £10million, or whatever the fee will be, will be reinvested wisely - it would not be the best of situations for Lennon to deal with, and the focus has to be on ensuring Celtic have a settle squad focused on doing battle both domestically and on the continent.

A quick look at Aston Villa fan websites shows their support is not entirely behind the idea of signing Aiden, but it's possible their judgement is clouded by the disappointment of Shaun Maloney's stay at Villa Park. There's no guarantee Aiden will be a success in the Premier League but there is no guarantee any player will be a success anywhere - and he has as good a chance as anybody.

Putting the £10million figure aside (or £8million, if that's what it proves to be ), it would be difficult to criticise Aiden for making the move, a move which really does appear to be a matter of when rather than if, as he has now reached the stage of his career when he may well want to chance his foot in England. Until something is done to strengthen the Scottish domestic competition (which will never happen), players will continue to be tempted by the lights down south.

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Writer: Jamie@Vital Celtic

Date:Tuesday July 20 2010

Time: 8:57AM

Your Comments

£10million would be a lot of gold-plated, ivory-handled back-scratchers for our wonderful Board. Aiden's off but does anybody have any real belief the cash will be invested in a way we will be happy about? Thought not.

ForeverHoop

Wish him all the best where ever he goes. Cant see the money being put back into the market tho but the board have said what ever NL brings in he will get back... but they do say alot of things. Who knows...

cfc-rae-cfc

Be interesting won't it? Good luck to him. Don't blame him for moving on. Not as I have done certain other players.

Jamie1967

With all the speculation we all know he is on his way. It is difficult to blame Aiden for this. Recently we watched Joe Ledley move to one of the biggest clubs in world soccer , Celtic. We can't blame Aiden for looking to try something different too. I'd have a problem if he was looking at Birmingham or some other team of pretenders, and frankly, I'm not sure Villa is much better or bigger than Brum. McGeady should be aiming higher than this I believe, and I find it a joke that Milner is being offered at more than twice McGeady's quoted value. I watched Milner in the WCD and have done many times last season. Give me McGeady anytime. If you go Aiden, don't sell yourself short. You are a superstar.

weetim67

Wish supporters would study the facts its pretty obvious by the balance sheet that money has been reinvested in the team.

dannybhoy46

'weetim' - statistically Milner was the fourth best midfield player in the PL last season and also Young Player of the Year. Ok I agree that the money is extortionate but it is purely supply and demand whilst also relative to the richest club in the world wanting our player. Re: McGeady I'm really not sure what to make as I don't watch SPL football at all...but saying that the guy will get his chance no doubt and I'm sure the fans will support him. I think the problem is that Villa fans don't see him as a 'wow' signing with a fancy Latin name etc. Finally I think you need to do your research as Villa have won every domestic trophy and are still the fourth most successful team in England whilst on the contrary Birmingham City have won a single league cup trophy in their entire history! That's your end of the lesson! UTV.

Yuen_Biao

...oh yeah and of course Villa won the European Cup (how could I forget).

Yuen_Biao