Brad Friedel (Aston Villa)

Reds lead Friedel chase
American veteran could be heading back to Anfield

By Graeme Bailey
Last Updated: May 16, 2011 10:26am

Liverpool are leading the race to sign Brad Friedel and take him back to Anfield, skysports.com understands.

Friedel is out of contract in the summer at Aston Villa, and the Midlands club are keen for him to stay.

The Amercian has held talks with Villa, but skysports.com understands that up to three other Premier League clubs are ready to make the 39-year-old an offer.

West Brom and Tottenham are also very keen on Friedel, who is set to make a decision on his future following Villa's final game of the season - which coincidentally is against Liverpool on Sunday.

Friedel's agent Tony McGill refused to confirm the interest of any of the Premier League clubs - insisting he would look at his options next week.

"I will be holding talks with Brad next week, once the season has finished and we will then go over his options" McGill told skysports.com.

"At the moment he is focused on Villa's final game, but also the birth of his next child which is imminent.

"I have read the newspaper speculation, but we are not going to talk about any clubs until the season has finished."

Friedel previously spent three years with Liverpool up to 2000, mainly serving as understudy to David James and Sander Westerveld, before he joined Blackburn - where he established himself as one of the Premier League's top keepers.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6935444,00.html

Purely his agent trying to up the stakes in his contract negotiations.

On a side note, I always felt we dropped a bollock letting him go, good keeper.

Lot of rumours around this is very close. Strange to be honest obviously he is happy to be a number two

Surely this is bollocks ?

Surely this is bollocks ?

Why do you say its bollocks? Got to agree with Res and we dropped a bollock letting him go in the first place - always rated him meself.

Trying to get a last big pay cheque as he is pretty broke now a days.

Friedel's good enough to be our back up, and I've got no problems with that, whatsoever.

Id say there's about 2 years left in him, so I'd say it's a good move.

A good idea that. Play one more year (although as second choice, Gulasci can also learn very much from him), then retire and be a goalkeeping coach here.

I hope this is true ... Would be the perfect backup keeper, while Gulasci is collecting some valuable first team experience on loan in the Championship ...

Got to agree with Res and we dropped a bollock letting him go in the first place - always rated him meself.

Rep  

Why do you say its bollocks? Got to agree with Res and we dropped a bollock letting him go in the first place - always rated him meself.

No doubting he is a talented keeper as proven over the years. Just don't understand If Pepe is staying why he would sacrifice first team football in the PL to come here and sit on the bench for 90% of the season personally. Not to mention Gulacsi looks like a decent prospect, on top of Brad Jones who we forked out £2 million for less than a year ago.

Didn't mean the "bollocks" statement as a stab at his ability. Just wouldn't make sense to me.

Not sure why he'd want to be second choice. He's a damn fine keeper. He could start at most clubs in the Premiership (though with Pepe here we're not one of them). As long as his wages are cheap I'd gladly have an American in the squad

If we've got plans on  sending Gulasci out on loan, then fine, otherwise I don't think we really need him.

Rep   

Apologies Rep - me head's still reeling after the result.

Apologies Rep - me head's still reeling after the result.

You're not alone, mate. I've been in a crap mood all day,

Didn't mean the "bollocks" statement as a stab at his ability. Just wouldn't make sense to me.

That's where the misunderstanding occurred, clear as day now mate - some very relevant comments as well.

Agreed with Res ( ) also on that we dropped a bollock (love that phrase) on him. Always a better keeper than Calamity James.

If he is happy to spend his final years as an understudy at the greatest club in the world, id snap him up. Pepe rarely is ever out, but if he was i'd be very confident having a guy like Friedel coming in to fill the void. Remember there being a good number of games where he has pulled off some stunning saves against us, as well as others. Always felt sorry for him getting sent off against us that game a few years back as well.

Friedel Scores!

Also scored more than our Pepe

If he's on low wages, then why not take him in for a couple of seasons.

He can teach Gulasci and the other young lads and I'm pretty sure Reina could pick up a thing or two as well. He'll do a very good job in filling in for Pepe too.

Be a great signing, just because we could wear Harry Henderson masks in the Kop, worth signing him just for that.

I don't quite see the logic in signing another older keeper as a number two. Why not just keep Brad Jones?

Personally I'd rather sell Jones and use Gulacsi as the number two as the amount of games Pepe misses is minimal to say the least and I'd rather have a young hungry keeper with something to prove to step in than an experienced player who is happy to sit on the bench all season.

Very good keeper, just not the right move for us in my opinion.

I heard it's with a view of moving into a coaching role after he retires?

I heard it's with a view of moving into a coaching role after he retires?

That would make a bit more sense mate but I'd really like to see more use of the younger keepers to be honest.