since the fate of the American and Jamaican was decided this week. Hard luck to de yardie. Hope other doors open up for him.
Villa-bound Guzan granted permit
BBC Sport
Guzan was voted the best keeper in MLS last season
Aston Villa are set to complete the signing of goalkeeper Brad Guzan after the American was granted a work permit.
Villa had already agreed a fee, believed to be about £2m, with American side Chivas USA for the 23-year-old.
Guzan, who has won five caps for the USA, had been linked with a number of clubs in Europe but opted for Villa.
Guzan is the second American keeper to sign for Villa this summer, Brad Friedel having completed a move from Blackburn last week.
And Guzan is likely to provide back-up to 37-year-old Friedel, who made 287 appearances while at Ewood Park.
The Villans, who were also linked with Paul Robinson prior to his move to Blackburn, have also seen keepers Scott Carson and Thomas Sorensen leave the club this summer for West Brom and Stoke City respectively.
Guzan is the latest American keeper to move to the Premier League, following in the footsteps of Kasey Keller, Friedel, Tim Howard and Marcus Hahnemann.
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Stoke target not granted permit
By: Sky Sports
Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has revealed the club's proposed signing of Jamaica international Rudolph Austin has collapsed.
The Portmore United midfielder has been a long-term target for the Potters as the club prepare for the new Premier League season.
Stoke were in pole position to land Rudolph's services, however Pulis has confirmed that the deal has fallen through after the midfielder was refused a work permit at an appeal hearing.
He told The Sentinel: "They turned us down, which is desperately disappointing. Obviously we've worked hard over the last 18 months to secure a work permit for Rudolph.
"We honestly think he's going to be a very good player.
"We are looking at all the options. Tony Scholes (Stoke's chief executive) is speaking to lawyers to see where we go from here.
"We've spoken to Rudolph this morning. Of course he's desperately disappointed, but he's okay and accepts what has happened."