Villa put price tag on Moore

Villa boss Martin O’Neill wants £3.5m for Luke Moore – but has refused to allow the wantaway striker to leave without signing a replacement.

Scottish giants Rangers have already enquired about the unsettled 22-year-old, who refused to sign a new contract and was reported to have visited Glasgow for talks.

Middlesbrough, managed by one of Moore’s heroes in Gareth Southgate, are desperate for a striker and may also revive interest in a player who has plundered six goals in four games against them.

Moore’s refusal to sign effectively forced O’Neill to invoke a 12-month option in the club’s favour to protect their investment.

“Luke has asked to leave, but I’m in no rush to be letting people go until we get replacements in,” said O’Neill.

“Rangers haven’t come in for Luke in terms of a bid, but Walter Smith asked me about him and that’s as far as it’s gone.

“Three and a half million price tag? Well, yes, obviously because Luke is a Premier League player and that’s what he would cost in this day and age.

“I spoke to Walter about a week ago and he hasn’t been in touch with me since.

“Would I like someone else in first? Absolutely – we don’t have the squad at this minute and we’re looking to get people in.”

O’Neill has been linked with Tottenham’s Jermain Defoe, who has since decided to stay at White Hart Lane, and Reading’s Kevin Doyle, who was an impressive performer at Villa Park in Villa’s 3-1 win 10 days ago.

Moore burst onto the scene as one of the club’s most promising Academy players ever, winning the FA Youth Cup in 2002 and caps at England youth, under-20 and under-21 levels before being the club’s eight-goal top League scorer in 2005-06, and youngest hat-trick scorer against Middlesbrough in February 2006.

But a shoulder injury kept him out for four months last season and he has struggled to progress, since being overtaken by Gabriel Agbonlahor in the pecking order.