Villa boss Martin O’Neill’s long-standing interest in Craig Bellamy could intensify with news Liverpool are prepared to sell.

As Villa finally prepared to agree terms with £8.5m Nigel Reo-Coker, the £26.5m arrival of Fernando Torres at Anfield means Liverpool now have four senior strikers with Andriy Voronin also joining this summer.

Welsh international Bellamy is surplus to requirements after boss Rafa Benitez admitted there are several clubs interested in the controversial forward.

Villa face a battle with West Ham and two of Bellamy’s former clubs Newcastle and Blackburn for his signature.

Asked if Bellamy will be leaving, Benitez said: “Possibly. We have some clubs asking about him and it’s a possibility.” 

Read the full story in the Express & Star. 

Villa boss Martin O’Neill’s long-standing interest in Craig Bellamy could intensify with news Liverpool are prepared to sell.

As Villa finally prepared to agree terms with £8.5m Nigel Reo-Coker, the £26.5m arrival of Fernando Torres at Anfield means Liverpool now have four senior strikers with Andriy Voronin also joining this summer.

Welsh international Bellamy is surplus to requirements after boss Rafa Benitez admitted there are several clubs interested in the controversial forward.

Villa face a battle with West Ham and two of Bellamy’s former clubs Newcastle and Blackburn for his signature.

Asked if Bellamy will be leaving, Benitez said: “Possibly. We have some clubs asking about him and it’s a possibility.” 

With Liverpool seeking to recoup funds to cover the massive outlay in Torres, sources on Merseyside indicate the club may accept around £8m, less than the inflated figure of between £10m-£12m which scared O’Neill off earlier in the summer.

As the Express & Star reported yesterday, Villa’s chances of signing Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe appear to be receding and the England international today ruled out leaving White Hart Lane.

Meanwhile, O’Neill welcomed the impending arr-ival of Reo-Coker by saying he will make a big impact.

“I was delighted West Ham accepted our offer so I had a chance to tell Nigel all about Villa’s hopes and ambitions for him,” said O’Neill.

 Reo-Coker’s arrival is expected to trigger the £4m departure of Steven Davis to Fulham.

And striker Chris Sutton has retired. The player’s agent Tony McGill said: “Due to an eye injury sustained last year, Chris has been forced into retirement.” 

Villa have also been linked with a move for Porto right-back Jose Bosingwa.