Taylor close to signing Crouch
Tuesday, 26 March 2002 12:56Aston Villa are on the verge of signing Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch in a £3million deal. The two clubs are understood to have agreed a fee for the former QPR player who moved to Fratton Park for £1.5million last summer. Villa have been given permission by new Pompey manager Harry Redknapp to speak to Crouch who has just earned his first England Under-21 call-up.
Villa manager Graham Taylor is keen to tie up the deal before Thursday's transfer deadline for 6ft 7in Crouch. But there are unlikely to be any concrete developments until after Tuesday's U-21s clash with Italy at Valley Parade.
Crouch has already scored 19 goals for Pompey during the current campaign and Taylor wants to bring in extra fire power. He is already resigned to losing Juan Pablo Angel, the club's record signing at £9.5million from River Plate, in the summer.
In addition, Dion Dublin is at the veteran stage of his career while Bosko Balaban has failed to make an impact since his £6million move from Dinamo Zagreb last summer.
Filed by Johnny Proby
