Aston Villa last night completed a frenetic day of transfer activity by signing the Norwegian forward John Carew from Lyon in a swap deal that saw Milan Baros move in the opposite direction. Carew, a striker whose previous clubs include Beskitas, Valencia and Roma, has agreed a three and a half-year deal at Villa Park and is expected to form a new-look forward line alongside the England Under-21 forward, Ashley Young.
Both players were at Bodymoor Heath yesterday afternoon for medicals, with Villa set to confirm Young's signature in the next 24 hours.
The arrivals will significantly bolster their attacking options, an area which Martin O'Neill has been desperate to strengthen since he arrived in August. Carew brings considerable European experience and will be expected to make a greater contribution than Baros.
The Czech Republic international failed to impress after his £7 million transfer from Liverpool 18 months ago - a fee on which Villa paid the final instalment only 10 days ago, after his 50th appearance for the club at Old Trafford - and was booed when he was substituted against Watford on Saturday. O'Neill would not be drawn on Baros's future immediately after the match but he has long been disillusioned with the striker's lacklustre displays.
Baros turned down the chance to join Lyon before he signed for Villa, a decision which he claimed yesterday he did not regret. "I hadn't wanted to leave England at the time because I wished to develop in the Premiership," said the 25-year-old, who will be reunited with his first manager at Anfield, Gerard Houllier.
"A new opportunity came when Lyon made their offer and I felt that it was the right moment to move."
O'Neill had refused to allow Baros to leave until a replacement could be found. He has long admired Tottenham's Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane but with Martin Jol unwilling to sanction either forward's departure, the Irishman was forced to extend his search outside the Premiership.
Carew, a target for several English clubs in recent years, has a reputation for troublemaking as well as goalscoring, but O'Neill will hope for the latter.
The 27-year-old's signing confirms Villa's intentions to become major players in the Premiership, with the club's American owner Randy Lerner understood to be prepared to bankroll further deals before the transfer window closes.
