Aston Villa will be without first-choice goalkeeper Mark Bosnich for at least the next two months. Bosnich needs further surgery on a shoulder injury, which has already kept him out of action since early October.
The 26-year-old Australian suffered damage when colliding with the former Coventry City striker Dion Dublin - now a Villa teammate - in the Premiership game at Highfield Road on October 3rd. Bosnich has already undergone one exploratory operation but this proved inconclusive.
John Gregory, the Villa manager, said: "This means we must now step up our search for another 'keeper."
Liverpool have given up in their bid to sign Bayern Munich's German international defender Thomas Helmer after the club and player failed to agree terms. The club has also let Dynamo Kiev's Olexandr Golovko return home after a week's trial at Anfield.
However Liverpool are hoping to strike a deal with the struggling Serie A side Salernitana over the Cameroon international Rigobert Song, who is currently training with them. The Italian side want £3 million for the defender, who will need a work permit to play in England.
The Professional Footballers' Association last night admitted that they have already been involved in paying the wage bills of "at least six clubs" this season. And the PFA's deputy chief executive, Brendon Batson, believes it is time for a "far better distribution of money throughout the game".
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