By FRANCO PANIZO
If Brad Guzan is going to permanently claim a starting goalkeeping spot in the near future, he will have to do so at the club where he has struggled to breakthrough thus far.
After flirting with free agency, Guzan re-signed with Aston Villa on Monday, the Premiership club announced on its website. The U.S. men's national team goalkeeper agreed to a new three-year deal that will see him stay through the 2014-2015 season, and it is believed that new Villans manager Paul Lambert is going to give Guzan every chance to try and claim the starting role ahead of Shay Given this upcoming campaign.
The 27-year-old Guzan, who will join his teammates immediately in Philadelphia for Villa's preseason tour of the United States, has had a difficult time getting onto the field for the club since joining it from Chivas USA in 2008. In his first four years there, Guzan made eight league appearances and seven of those came last year while Given was sidelined with an injury.
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CAPELLO TO TAKE RUSSIA JOB
It did not take Fabio Capello long to get another coaching gig in international soccer. Having resigned from the England post in February, Capello will soon return to the sidelines by coaching Russia. The Russian Football Union announced it is close to hiring Capello on Monday, and he will be tasked with guiding the team to the 2014 World Cup after the Russians suffered a disappointing showing at Euro 2012 earlier this summer under then-head coach Dick Advocaat.
WAGES HOLDING UP IBRAHIMOVIC SWITCH TO PSG
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not be joining Paris Saint-Germain just yet, as how much he will earn at the club is still not determined. PSG sporting director Leonardo confessed Monday that a deal would not be reached until Ibrahimovic's wages are agreed upon. Reports out of Italy claim that PSG want to pay him $10.9 million a year over the span of four seasons, but the 30-year-old striker allegedly wants a three-year deal worth $18.3 million a season.
DUNDEE ASKED TO FILL IN FOR RANGERS IN SPL
While Rangers will be playing this upcoming season in the fourth tier of Scottish soccer, Dundee will likely be taking their place in the Scottish Premier League. Representatives of the SPL confirmed Monday they will ask Dundee, of the Scottish First Division, to take Rangers' spot in the top flight. Dundee finished as runners-up in the Scottish First Division last year.
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Think it was a good move for Guzan to re-sign with Aston Villa? How do you see Capello faring with Russia? Still expecting Ibrahimovic to join PSG?
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