Exclusive: Mark Hughes wants Brad Friedel for Man City

By Ken Lawrence 6/07/2008

Mark Hughes (Pic:DM)

Mark Hughes will launch a bid to bring in veteran goalkeeper Brad Friedel from his former club Blackburn Rovers.

He is likely to succeed if he comes up with about £1.5million even though the American veteran has already celebrated his 37th birthday.

Hughes has a huge admiration for the American giant and believes he can help tutor City's young

England star Joe Hart.

The Ewood Park club are already preparing for life after Friedel. Rovers boss Paul Ince will launch a £4m bid for Tottenham's Paul Robinson.

The former England star is the man Aston Villa want to fill their goalkeeping gap. Villa are expected to step up their interest in Robinson this week but will discover that Rovers are determined rivals.

Hughes left Blackburn only this summer to take over at Eastlands but there is nothing in the compensation agreement reached between the clubs preventing him from buying his old Blackburn players.

Hughes is also contemplating a move for Rovers striker Roque Santa Cruz.

City have started their pre-season programme and Hughes has told club directors that he wants to gain a better assessment of his playing staff before launching too many transfer initiatives.

Some City fans may be concerned that Friedel will block Hart's progress. The 20-yearold has been widely acknowledged as the best young English keeper in the business.

Friedel is likely to be offered a parttime coaching role, a position he would take up full-time when he eventually retires.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill has been preparing a bid for Robinson all summer, having decided to send on-loan goalkeeper Scott Carson back to Liverpool because he would not meet their £10m valuation.

But he is likely to face stiff opposition from new Rovers boss Ince, who will tomorrow be joined by Archie Knox as his No.2..

STEED'S £4M VILLA MOVE ASTON VILLA are set to make a £4million bid for Tottenham midfielder Steed Malbranque.

The Frenchman (below) is part of the White Hart Lane clear-out by Juande Ramos.

The manager is looking to add £10mrated Spanish winger Diego Capel to a squad already strengthened by Luka Modric from Dynamo Zagreb and goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes from PSV Eindhoven.

Villa, who are also trailing West Ham's Anton Ferdinand, know they are set to lose Gareth Barry to Liverpool and manager Martin O'Neill believes Malbranque will add pace and goals to his midfield.

O'Neill will sign Portu- gal right-back Miguel from Valencia this week.