Even though Aston Villa have yet to appoint a new manager to replace Gerard Houllier, they have targeted Birmingham goalkeeper Foster to succeed Friedel, who quit Villa Park yesterday to join Tottenham.
But Foster, 28, is wanted not only by Villa. Several other Premier League clubs are showing an interest in Foster, who joined Birmingham from Manchester United a year ago for £6million.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is thought to be considering a move and others are awaiting confirmation at what price he will be available, including Stoke, where he once had a successful loan spell.
England coach Fabio Capello, meanwhile, is still desperately hoping Foster will reverse his decision to call a temporary halt on his international career. Foster left England virtually threadbare in that department after announcing he wanted at least this summer off to try to shake off a string of niggling injuries.Capello would have liked Foster in the squad for today’s European Championship qualifier against Switzerland at Wembley, but instead had to select West Ham’s Rob Green and West Brom’s Scott Carson as back-up for first-choice Joe Hart.
The current winner in the battle for Foster’s attentions appears to be his partner Kate Louise Smith. Instead of being at Wembley, Foster is expected to be spending today finalising preparations for his marriage in a fortnight.
Although Birmingham manager Alex McLeish would like to keep Foster at St Andrew’s, relegation from the Premier League means several of the club’s leading players could leave this summer, with Foster expected to be valued at about £8m.
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