Villa custodian in £3m exit link

QPR boss Mark Hughes is pondering a £3million summer swoop to entice goalkeeper Shay Given away from Aston Villa.

The Republic of Ireland international shot-stopper, who played in his country's 3-1 defeat against Croatia in their Euro 2012 opener on Sunday, has only been at Villa Park for 12 months after former boss Alex McLeish handed him a five-year contract last summer. However, with Hughes looking for a new number one at Loftus Road after allowing Paddy Kenny to leave, it appears he wants to sign Given having managed him during his time in charge of Manchester City. It is unlikely that new Villa boss Paul Lambert would be willing to part with such a key player despite the fact he will want to put his own stamp on the side during the summer transfer window. Hughes has also been linked with Birmingham's Ben Foster and England international Robert Green, who is leaving West Ham this summer, and might have to settle for one of those options.