Shay Given has ended his Manchester City nightmare with a £3 million move to Premier League rivals Aston Villa.

 The Ireland goalkeeper, who signed for City from Newcastle in an attempt to win trophies, has been a frustrated figure this season after losing the number one jersey to England goalkeeper Joe Hart.

 Football betting pundits note how Given has become Alex McLeish’s first signing at Villa since moving form Midlands rivals Birmingham and will be a straight replacement for Brad Friedel, who left in the summer to join Tottenham.

 McLeish is also in the market for a winger after losing influential pair Ashley Young and Stewart Downing. McLeish has been an admirer of Charles N’Zogbia and, after failing to sign him when at the helm at Birmingham, is poised to bid £9 million for the Wigan wide man. Villa will have to beat off strong competition from Newcastle, who had a bid rejected in January.

 If Wigan lose N’Zogbia, manager Roberto Martinez will turn his attention to highly-rated Leeds winger Robert Snodgrass.

 The Scotland midfielder, who was subject to a rejected bid from Premier League new boys Norwich earlier this summer, has interested plenty of top-flight clubs and Wigan are set to test the United hierarchy again with a £4 million offer. 

 Free agent Owen Hargreaves could be a Premier League player again this season with West Brom set to be weighing up a bid for the England midfielder.

 Hargreaves was released by Manchester United at the end of last season due to his well-documented injury problems but, after proving his fitness in a series of YouTube videos, could become Roy Hodgson’s third summer signing after the arrivals of Billy Jones and Gareth McAuley.

 Steve Bruce has rejected claims Lee Cattermole is leaving the Stadium of Light. Rumours have emerged that Liverpool are looking to reunite the midfielder and Jordan Henderson at Anfield this season but Bruce was quick to insist Cattermole has no intention of leaving the North East.

 David Moyes could dip into the loan market again with the signing of Nicklas Bendtner from Arsenal in an attempt to improve his squad. Everton have had a series of loan signings in recent years due to their lack of finances and, after the Denmark striker was given the go-ahead of leave the Gunners, could arrive at Goodison Park on a season-long loan.

 Eidur Gudjohnsen is set to force a move to Greece after West Ham pulled the plug on a deal for the Icelandic’s services.

 The former Chelsea striker looked set to be reunited with Sam Allardyce at West Ham with football bets (http://www.bigfreebet.com/sports-betting/football-betting/) already being lined up on him to excel in the Championship but, after taking too long to make a decision, could sign a deal with AEK Athens.