Aston Villa have made their second signing of the summer after Brad Guzan agreed to join from Chivas USA for a fee that could rise to £3 million. Martin O’Neill, the manager, is confident that the United States goalkeeper, whom he attempted to acquire in January, will be granted a work permit this time after his increased international outings.

Steve Sidwell, the former Reading midfield player, arrived from Chelsea last week for an initial £4.5 million as Villa set about strengthening a threadbare squad that will lose Gareth Barry to Liverpool once the clubs agree a fee.

O’Neill said: “As everyone knows, we chased him [Guzan] last January and were hopeful at the tribunal for the work permit but it was narrowly defeated. Since then, he has played quite a number of games for the US. His position would have improved immensely, so we are very hopeful.”

Villa, who enter the Intertoto Cup on Saturday when they play the first leg of their third-round tie away to Odense BK, of Denmark, have also inquired about the availability of several other goalkeepers. With Scott Carson back at Liverpool after a season’s loan and Thomas Sorensen having been released, O’Neill has only Stuart Taylor at his disposal. Paul Robinson, the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper, would be keen to join Villa, while Robert Green, of West Ham United, and Brad Friedel, of Blackburn Rovers, are also thought to be on the manager’s radar.