Battle to sign Colin Healy

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND international Colin Healy has opened talks with Aston Villa and Sunderland and his legal representative Mel Stein has warned clubs that they are looking to conclude a deal quickly.

Stein said: “I am in dialogue with Villa and Sunderland but I have no idea whether there will be any movement in the next few days.”

Healy is hoping for a quick move after deciding to leave Celtic last season but, with most managers on holidays before the start of pre-season training in the next two weeks, it looks more likely that he may have to wait.

The Ballincollig midfielder will become the third Ireland international to move clubs this summer following Steve Finnan’s move to Liverpool and Matt Holland’s transfer to Charlton Athletic.

Meanwhile, former Ireland international Denis Irwin looks set to postpone his retirement for a season to help Wolves settle into the Premiership.

Irwin, who won 56 caps for Ireland between 1990 and 1999, had intended to retire at the end of the season but admitted that Wolves promotion to the Premiership and his own good form meant that he would have to think long and hard about it.

And now Wolves manager Dave Jones has confirmed that Wolves chief executive Jez Moxley has met with Irwin to try and convince him to stay with the club.

Meanwhile, Arsenal and Manchester United are now in a straight head-to-head battle for the signature of Leeds star Harry Kewell.

Just as the Premiership’s two heavyweights slugged it out for the title last season, so they are now set to lock horns for one of the league’s most entertaining and skilful players.

With just a year remaining on his current contract, Leeds have pulled out all the stops in an effort to keep Kewell at Elland Road, offering to make him their highest-paid player.

A £2.5million-per-year, two-year extension is now on the table, but after narrowly avoiding relegation last season and with no European football for Leeds ahead, such a package is not as appealing.

Although Kewell has not ruled out the possibility of staying at Leeds, it appears increasingly likely his future lies elsewhere, particularly as both Arsenal and United can offer Champions League football for the Australia international.

Kewell, along with agent Bernie Mandic, met with Gunners vice chairman David Dein yesterday to begin discussions on a proposed move to Highbury.

Arsenal may head the chase, as Mandic revealed: “They have expressed an interest through me,” only to add: “But then other clubs have also expressed an interest.”

Although Arsene Wenger is in France commentating on the Confederations Cup for television, the Arsenal boss is believed to have instructed Dein to do all he can to land Kewell.

Arsenal and Wenger’s problem, however, is transfer funds are limited this summer which is why a player-plus-cash deal for the £6m-rated Kewell has been suggested.

Although Leeds manager Peter Reid is interested in England U21 international Jermaine Pennant, Arsenal have instead offered the likes of Ray Parlour and Francis Jeffers.

Ideally, given Leeds are almost £80m in debt, chairman John McKenzie would prefer a money-only transfer, which is where United have an edge over Arsenal.

Kewell was known to have been monitoring the David Beckham saga, and with the England captain now off to Real Madrid for £24.5million, the way is clear for a move to Old Trafford.

United chief executive Peter Kenyon is apparently now working towards attracting Kewell, among others, to the Premier League champions, given the club is armed with the Beckham cash.

But Kewell is not cash driven, according to Mandic, who claims the player would have joined United by now if all he was interested in was money.

Arsenal, though, is apparently Kewell’s preferred choice, particularly as the parents of his wife, soap actress Sheree Murphy, who yesterday gave birth to the couple’s second child, live in London.

If Kewell and Mandic can thrash out a deal with Dein, who in turn is able to agree on a suitable package with Leeds, Arsenal are likely to pip United for the winger.

Despite the prospect of losing Kewell, who would become the sixth big name to leave Leeds in 12 months following Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Keane, Olivier Dacourt, Robbie Fowler and Jonathan Woodgate, United fans remain firmly behind the club.

Leeds have already sold 20,000 season tickets for next season, on a par with the figure for this time a year ago.