Aston Villa’s out-of-favor striker Juan Pablo Angel is close on the brink of joining the New York Red Bulls, according to a report from the Manchester Guardian, which said that a salary has been agreed between the two parties and a deal could be finalized as early as today, though Villa and MLS still have to sort out a suitable transfer fee. Big Apple Soccer said the Red Bulls’ front office wouldn’t confirm that a deal was forthcoming.
Angel, a Colombian, is one of a number of international strikers repeatedly linked with the club. Ecuador’s Augustin Delgado, former Brazil striker Edmundo, and now, France’s Djibril Cisse have all been in negotiations with the New York team. The Bulls have been in talks with Liverpool regarding the latter for about a week; Cisse is currently on loan with French First Division club Marseille, and only considered an outside possibility.
Meanwhile, the club has been pursuing 31-year-old Angel for some time. If the club is able to complete the paperwork before tomorrow night’s deadline, Angel would become the club’s second designated player. According to Big Apple Soccer, Red Bulls technical director Jeff Agoos recently flew over to Birmingham, England, to meet with Angel’s representatives and to move along the deal.