HAMMERS TALK: Rovers and Villa in the race to sign Green

9:54am Wednesday 9th July 2008

WEST Ham goalkeeper Robert Green is at the centre of a tug-of-war between Blackburn and Aston Villa.

That could see the Irons potentially facing the start of the seson without their player of the year and boss Alan Curbishley would be horrified to lose his first choice stopper.

But with contract talks stalling between the player and club, a switch may be on the cards.

The 28-year-old is thought to be picking up about £25,000-a-week and has two years remaining on his contract.

But after another fine season last term the England international is looking for a pay rise to bring him line with the club's top earners.

However, rumours persist that the club that are no longer as financially stable as they have been in the past 18 months and this has led to negotiations coming to a halt.

As such, Green could look for a way out of Upton Park, with Rovers and Villa both giving him a chance to boost his bid to establish himself in the England squad.

Martin O'Neill's side are in the Intertoto Cup and should be able to offer European football, while Blackburn have recently appointed Paul Ince as manager to show that they remain an ambitious club.

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