Aston Villa have this evening confirmed the capture the of Man City keeper Shay Given on a five-year deal.
The 35-year-old joins Alex McLeish’s squad and will claim the number one jersey following the departure of Brad Friedel to Tottenham.
McLeish was understandably delighted at sealing the deal for the Republic of Ireland stopper, a player with proven Premier League pedigree who had found himself sidelined by the burgeoning talent of Joe Hart at Eastlands. Given made just 11 appearances for City last season, none of which were in the Premier League.
The Villa boss gave us this via the club’s official announcement…
“Shay has come here probably with something of a point to prove and that won’t do any harm at all…Everybody who has watched him perform over many years in the Premier League will know his pedigree, so we believe we have secured the services of one of the best goalkeepers in the business.â€
For Fantasy Managers tonight’s confirmation will come as significant news. Villa have been blessed with a very kind opening set of fixtures (ful BLA WOL eve NEW qpr) that promises returns at both ends of the field. While Villa have lost the services of both Ashley Young and Stewart Downing in attacking quarters, the rearguard remains intact and in McLeish they have a manager renowned for favouring a defensive outlook.
Given is likely to be available in the mid-price bracket; he claimed a 6.0 initial price tag in the Fantasy Premier League last season but, having suffered a season of frustration, he is set to drop this term. Coupled with a favourable schedule of fixtures, Given will likely prove a popular target for the opening two months of the season as the trend for low-to-mid price Fantasy keepers continues.
