The Villa Times 30/08/05

Villa have secured the signature of a peach of a player. 27 year old central defender Wilfred has signed a 3 year deal costing Villa in the region of £3.5m. He said: 'I am really delighted to be joining Villa. It is a big club and I am really looking forward to playing for them in the Premier League. I know Aston Villa want to be challenging at the top of the table and I want to help. I want to do my best to improve the club. The manager David O'Leary was a massive reason for my signing for Villa. I had a great talk with him and he made it clear that he believes in me and my ability.' He can play left back and central defence and has been used as a winger and central midfielder during his career.

27 year old Leeds midfielder Eirik Bakke is also in talks with Villa, this time for a season long loan. His agent said 'Villa are discussing a loan of Eirik Bakke...The discussions are going well.' Bakke had an injury plagued season last year.

DOL insists Laursens injury does not spell the end of his career and says he is going to an American to assess whether he needs an operation or not. Villa's second round Carling Cup game at Wycombe takes place at The Causeway Stadium on Tuesday September 20 (kick off 7.45pm).

Hendrie and Berger are part of the reserves squad that take on Small Heath at St Andrews tonight (7pm kick off). Villa: Taylor, Paul Green, Foley, Cahill, O'Halloran, Berger, Hendrie, Ward, Kabeya, Moore, Agbonlahor. Subs: Olejnik, Paul, Williams, Lund, Grant.

Some Liverpool sites are claiming that Solano is about to move to Scouse land.

Baros has said DOL's attacking style of play will help him bang in the goals for Villa. 'Of course, I had a great year with Euro 2004 and winning a Champions League medal and it is one which I will never forget. But I think it could have been better in the sense that I feel I could have scored more goals for Liverpool. I got something like 11 in 20 games but then only something like two in 20 after that last season. I have a great goalscoring record for the national team, who play good football, and I hope and feel confident I can bring that to Villa. The way the Czech Republic play helps me to score goals. At Villa it is clear that the manager also wants to play attacking football and he has shown that wherever he has managed. That will also be good for me.'

Baros is also looking forward to his partnership with Berger: 'The possibilities are there for me and Patrik. I know his game, he knows my game, and we have an understanding.'

Thought for the day: 'Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.'