Hughes wants Bellamy at Villa
Aston Villa defender Aaron Hughes has called on David O’Leary to do everything in his power to sign his former Newcastle team-mate Craig Bellamy.
The Northern Ireland captain, who reported for pre-season training with his new team-mates today, believes Bellamy would be a “great acquisition” for the midlands club.
O’Leary is expected to step up his attempts to try to win the race for Bellamy’s signature in the next few days after it has become clear he has no future at St James’ Park.
Bellamy has held talks with Everton who can offer him the prospect of Champions League football – if they come through a qualifying round.
But the Welsh international is thought to still have an open mind as to where his future lies and Hughes hopes he can be persuaded to join Villa.
The 25-year-old said: “Craig Bellamy is different class and any club would really love to have him on their books. The press that he gets is unfortunate but he is still a fantastic player.
“What people don’t see is what he does on the training ground. He works harder than anyone else. There is a lot that people don’t see with Craig. It would be great to sign him.”
Bellamy’s international team-mate Mark Delaney echoed Hughes’s sentiments. He said: “There’s no doubt that Craig’s arrival would give us a huge boost on top of what we have already done.
“He is a top-class striker. He’s got the quality to score and create, that’s why a lot of clubs want him. Everton are in the Champions League and that was a tremendous achievement. They are undoubtedly a big club, but so are Villa.
“Craig will know that we are aiming to be right up there next season. And with him on board, he could be the final piece of the jigsaw.
“Bellamy is quick and sharp. He’s wholehearted and would give us an added edge. It shows the club are not prepared to sit back and accept second best.”
Celtic, where Bellamy spent the second half of last season on loan, and Blackburn are also in the hunt for the former Coventry and Norwich player.
But sources close to Villa suggest O’Leary still believes he has as good a chance as anyone of bringing in a player who has been one of his top summer targets along with Manchester City defender Sylvain Distin.
It is understood Bellamy’s wage demands of £50,000 (€75,000) a week could prove a stumbling block for Everton and there have been suggestions he may have to play in a wide role under David Moyes – something he is not particularly enamoured with.
O’Leary would certainly have the funds available to afford Bellamy, who is available for around £5m (€7.5m), after being given the go-ahead to significantly strengthen his squad this season.
O’Leary has brought in four players already this summer in Patrik Berger, Aaron Hughes, Stuart Taylor and Kevin Phillips but they have cost a combined transfer fee of less than £3m (€4.5m).
