Soccer - transfer round-up:After a career that promised so much but threatened to fade into obscurity in recent years, Andy Reid will go back to his roots after agreeing a two-year contract with Nottingham Forest. The Republic of Ireland midfielder, a product of the Forest youth academy, will have a medical this afternoon before the deal is completed.
The 28-year-old, who joins on a free transfer, becomes the first signing for new manager Steve McClaren and will hope to recapture the form that saw him make over 150 appearances for the midlands club before making a big-money move to Tottenham in 2005.
After that experience soured, Reid has been to Charlton, Sunderland and Blackpool but made just five appearances for Ian Holloway’s side and his contract was not renewed after they were relegated last season.
Frozen out at international level, where manager Giovanni Trapattoni has left him out of squads since a reported row early in the Italian’s reign, Reid will hope to re-establish his credentials at the City Ground.
"Nottingham Forest are delighted to announce they have agreed personal terms with Andy Reid,” the club said today. "The Republic of Ireland international, who started his career with the Reds, will undergo a medical with a view to signing a two-year contract."
Shay Given, meanwhile continues to be linked with a move to Aston Villa with one leading bookmaker suspending betting on the transfer last night while Keiren Westwood has signed his three-year deal at Sunderland. The 26-year-old agreed a Bosman free transfer to the Stadium of Light last week.
The move could not be finalised until his contract at Coventry expired at midnight. Westwood will battle with Belgian youngster Simon Mignolet for a place in Bruce’s starting line-up with €10 million man Craig Gordon recovering from a knee injury.
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce said: “Keiren has proven to be an exceptional goalkeeper both in the Championship and at international level and he has certainly been one of the best in this country outside of the Premier League in recent seasons.
“We are obviously delighted that Keiren sees his future here at Sunderland, and we are looking forward to him joining what is a talented group of goalkeepers at the club.”
Westwood began his career at Manchester City, but established himself as a first-team player at Carlisle, where he made more than 130 league appearances before winning a move to Coventry in June 2008. He has seven full international caps and excelled for Giovanni Trapattoni’s men when deputising for the injured Given last season.
Westwood intends to use his elevation to the Premier League to challenge Given for his Ireland place. He told SAFC TV: “Obviously, that is very difficult. Shay Given is an amazing goalkeeper and he has dominated the goalkeeping situation for Ireland for many years now.
“That’s another challenge that I have been chipping away at for the last couple of years, and hopefully playing in the Premier League will make it a bit of a challenge for him.”
Bruce has already tabled a bid for Westwood’s Irish teammates John O’Shea and Darron Gibson while speculation linking the club with a move for Shane Long has eased since they signed teenage prospect Connor Wickham earlier this week.
O’Shea is expected to sign for Sunderland early next week. Alex Ferguson agreed to sell the Irishman, as well as Wes Brown and Gibson, to the Wearside club last month. O’Shea is the first of the three players to accept a deal.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon insists Reading's valuation for Long is too high for the club. Celtic had been linked with a close-season move for Long but the Royals' €7.7 million asking price for the 24-year-old ex-Cork City striker is out of the club's reach.
"You're talking £7million and that is out of our remit," Lennon said on Long.
