Stephen Warnock has signed for Aston Villa in a four year deal and will wear the number 25 shirt.
There is no news on the value but quotes range from £4mn to £8mn and well, they are just too different to take any one particular fee seriously, but if you wanted to hedge your bets, think around the £5mn mark but I'm sure we will find out for sure one day fairly soon.
The player is actually on his way to Villa Park now and will be paraded to the fans later and with the news that we have had a bid for Richard Dunne accepted today also, it looks like Martin O'Neill might finally be finished with his back four for this season.
Now, if the Dunne deal comes off, which you would expect it too, then with all the midfielders we have and strikers at the club, many of which are Martin O'Neill signings, you might feel that his business is now done for the summer, but I am thinking there might be more one coming and maybe one more leaving.
It is only a hunch, but with four days of the transfer window remaining, we don't have long to find out. Another hunch, how long before Warnock says that Martin O'Neill was the reason he wanted too play at Villa? I know I'm maybe being too cynical, but if the question gets loaded, he has to answer it.
Stephen WarnockClick here for a great post about singing for Aston Villa and here for the Rapid Vienna match post
The main aim is pushing for that top four spot. That's the ambition. The manager is buying some really talented players - young and ambitious - and I'm sure they will see that top four spot as a target and goal. Playing in Europe is important - playing against the top players on the continent is fantastic - and there's no better stage to do that than on the Champions League. If we could do that, it would be a great achievement.
We're in the Europa League now and that is hugely important, too. To play against great sides will be tremendous - just look at the likes of Celtic who will be involved in the competition now. If we can qualify for the group stages, we'll be part of that. It's a big night. After the result last week, it's a must-win game against Rapid. I'm sure the lads will go in with plenty of confidence and I'm sure we'll get the right result.