Soccer:New Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish is stepping up his attempts to sign a proven goalkeeper with Shay Given amongst the targets on his radar. The Manchester City player spent last season as number two to Joe Hart, who reaped the benefits of a season under McLeish when on loan at Birmingham.

Now McLeish is considering whether to return to Eastlands for 35-year-old Given, who moved from Newcastle two years ago and still has two years left on his current contract. Villa need a new number one after Brad Friedel opted to leave on a free transfer at the end of last season to move to Tottenham.

Given’s only appearances for City last season were in the Europa League, but at Villa the Republic of Ireland international would be virtually guaranteed first-team football ahead of back-up goalkeepers Brad Guzan and Andy Marshall.

McLeish also has to decide whether to go back to his former club and try and sign Ben Foster, who he brought to St. Andrew’s from Manchester United last summer. Foster had an outstanding season despite Blues being relegated from the Premier League.

Blackburn, meanwhile, will have to increase their offer if they are to bring Ireland captain Robbie Keane to Ewood Park. Tottenham are understood to have rebuffed a bid of around €2.2 million for the Dubliner with the London club seeking a fee closer to the €6.5 million agreed with West Ham before they were relegated.