Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis expects goalkeeper Mark Bosnich to succeed Peter Schmeichel at Treble winners Manchester United. Bosnich, who began his career at Old Trafford 10 years ago, can join the Red Devils on a free transfer under the Bosman Ruling.

United had this weekend been linked with Monaco's World Cup winning France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, but Ellis said: "Bosnich has decided to go and play for Manchester United rather than Villa and it is something that we have known about for some time.

"There is nothing that we can do about it, but it hurts us to lose him all the same."