Aston Villa have been linked with an interest in Dutch 33-year-old midfielder Mark van Bommel with the player on his way out of Bayern Munich when his contract expires in the summer. The midfielder has a reputation of being a dirty player and did little to prove otherwise at the World Cup last year, becoming somewhat of a Villain and hate figure of many, Spaniards in particular, after a foul-ridden final last year. Many speculated that the veteran, who captained the side in the absence of fellow oldie Gio van Bronckhorst in the final, was only in the side due to his engagement to head coach Bert van Marwijk’s daughter. Either way he kept the likes of Villa’s most hated man, Rafael van der Vaart frustrated which is a good thing! Very much in the twilight year’s of his career, not meaning an obsession with any shit vampire movies, and is keen on a move to England having not experienced the Premier League in his illustrious career. As well as German giants Bayern, van Bommel has turned out for the likes of PSV and Barcelona after proving himself as an effective, if somewhat controversial, holding midfielder. Having spent 4 seasons with Munich he began to become more defensive after an impressive goal record early on in his career. In 121 appearances in the Bundesliga, the Dutchman has scored 11 times, picking up 40 yellows (1 in 3 caps) and 3 red cards. The steel Villa need or another ageing, slowing and diminishing veteran aka Pires? In my opinion he will add little to what the likes of Petrov and Reo-Coker already can but experience is invaluable in some cases and a free transfer in the summer may well tempt Houllier.
