Postma could take FIFA action

Aston Villa’s wantaway keeper Stefan Postma is prepared to enlist the help of FIFA to help him quit the midlands club after David O’Leary announced the player would not be allowed to leave “on the cheap”.

Postma has asked for a transfer because of his lack of first-team opportunities given the fine form of Thomas Sorensen.

But his agent Piet Buter is unhappy that Villa are looking to recoup a sizeable portion of the £1m (€1.4m) they paid De Graafschap for his services two-and-a-half years ago.

He is prepared to invoke a FIFA rule where the fee for a player who is 28 or older – and has been at his club two years – can have his fee decided by the remaining value of his contract.

O’Leary said: “No-one really carries a top notch number two. Stefan did not come here on the cheap. He cost £1m (€1.4m).

“We understand his situation of wanting to play first-team football. But it is not going to be a cheap bid because of what he has cost the club.”

Buter countered: “He’s a second-choice keeper and the fee must represent a second-choice keeper. If the fee is high, I will have no problem using a FIFA rule which not many people seem aware of.

“If a player is 28 or older, and has played for his club for two years, then the fee is based on the remaining value of his contract.

“It was used in the summer by Roma but has not yet been used in England. The fee will definitely be less than £1m (€1.4m) because Stefan is not one of the highest earners.”