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Villa Release Guzan

Town may be amongst the clubs interested to note Aston Villa’s decision to release US international keeper Brad Guzan. The 27-year-old was linked with the Blues in March when manager Paul Jewell didn’t rule out moving for the Illinois-born glovesman.

Asked about 19-times-capped Guzan at the time of the reports, Jewell said: "If the papers keep on guessing often enough they’re probably going to get one or two. One of the areas where we need to get a first choice is the goalkeeper.

"Alex McCarthy came in and I thought he did OK on Saturday but his long-term future will be at Reading, so we need to try and nail down a [regular] goalkeeper as that’s something we haven’t had for a while. Certainly this season we’ve been chopping and changing too much. We need to nail a number one down.”

Top of Jewell’s keeper wish list is Tomasz Kuszczak, who is set to leave Manchester United this summer, however, top flight clubs in England and Germany are also believed to be eyeing the 30-year-old Polish international.

Former Peterborough man Joe Lewis, 24, who is also interesting Cardiff City, has been sounded out and is understood to be receptive to a move to Town, while Birmingham’s Colin Doyle, 26, has also been linked but with sources close to Portman Road playing down the Blues’ interest.

Guzan played university football with the South Carolina Gamecocks, moving on to the Chicago Fire Reserves in the USL Premier Development League, before making his MLS breakthrough with Chivas USA. In July 2008 he joined Villa for £600,000.

While with the Midlanders, Guzan’s first team opportunities were limited to 30 starts, six of those in the Premier League, plus two sub appearances.

The 6ft 4in tall keeper spent the second half of the 2010/11 season on loan at Hull City with whom he made 16 starts.

Photo: Action Images

Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk

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