Aston Villa set to bid for Birmingham goalkeeper Ben Foster – report

For all the latest reports and transfer rumours, visit our dedicated section here

Aston Villa are set to bid for Ben Foster this summer if their city rivals – Birmingham – are relegated this weekend, according to The Express.

Brad Friedel is set to leave Villa Park at the end of the season when his contract expires, and the Villans have identified Birmingham’s player of the year as a £10 million target to replace the veteran American.

Friedel, now 40, has been a top performer in recent years for Aston Villa though he is due to leave at the end of term, with a queue of clubs ready to offer him a lucrative deal away from Villa Park.

Foster has been outstanding for Birmingham since moving from Old Trafford last season though relegation for Alex McLeish’s side could force the goalkeeper to move on.

If Aston Villa are to bid for Foster this summer they could face stiff competition from Tottenham – who are reportedly in the market for a new goalkeeper after some high profile errors from Heurelho Gomes this season.

Birmingham would be reluctant to sell their star-man to their bitter rivals, although player transfers between the city’s two clubs are certainly not unprecedented – as the moves of Craig Gardner, Curtis Davies and Liam Ridgewell in recent years confirm.