Carson in talks with Stoke
Carson looks set to move to the Brittania
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Monday, 14, Jul 2008 09:26
Premier League newcomers Stoke City have agreed a fee of around £4 million with Liverpool for Scott Carson.
The England international spent last season on-loan with Aston Villa following a similar arrangement with Charlton Athletic in 2006/07.
Now the 22-year-old looks set to make a permanent move to the Brittania Stadium.
Carson initially impressed during his loan spell with Villa and there was talk of a permanent £10 million move.
But his form dipped drastically in the second half of the season and, as Villa's interest cooled, Carson was critical of the price-tag Liverpool put on his head - believing that it was pricing him out of joining Martin O'Neill's side on a permanent basis.
O'Neill has since signed Brad Guzan, subject to the US keeper being given a work permit, and have been linked with a move for Paul Robinson, who Carson, coincidentally, briefly replaced in the England team.
Carson joined Liverpool from Leeds for £750,000 in January 2005 but despite making an early impression by featuring in the Champions League quarter-final win over Juventus that year, he was unable to hold down a first-team place following the arrival of Pepe Reina and went out on loan.
He impressed first at The Valley during Charlton's relegation season, and last year at Villa Park.
He made his competitive England debut for the crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia at Wembley last November, but had a terrible evening and was at fault for two goals as Croatia won 3-2 at Wembley to deny England a place in Austria and Switzerland.
Having already sold Peter Crouch, Liverpool will hope to use the funds from the sale of Carson to finally secure the transfer of Gareth Barry.