Luke Young is today contemplating a shock move to Liverpool after Villa accepted a £2.5million offer for the out-of-favour right-back.

Villa manager Martin O’Neill confirmed, after last night’s friendly victory over Walsall, a bid – from the Merseysiders – had been accepted and it was now in the player’s hands to decide if he wanted the move.

Despite being a firm favourite with claret and blue supporters, Young, who has also interested West Ham and Sunderland, was one of six players made available for transfer at the beginning of the summer after O’Neill was told he must adhere to a sell-to-buy policy this summer.

But should the 31-year-old decide against a move to Anfield – where he would have to battle with England’s first-choice Glen Johnson for the right-back slot – he will join the rest of the squad which heads out to Portugal later today for this weekend’s Guadiana Cup.

O’Neill said: “There has been an offer from a football club for Luke, which he is mulling over. If it doesn’t materialise then he would also join us on the trip to Portugal too because he needs to play some football soon.

“We will see how that develops. He is having a think about it. If he chooses to go that’s it, if he chooses to stay then he needs to start playing because with the new rules I have to name a 25-man squad for the Premier League.”

Reds boss Roy Hodgson is a long-term admirer and reportedly tried to sign the former England international last season when he was in charge at Fulham.

Young, who still has three years to run on his existing deal, arrived from Middlesbrough for £6million two seasons ago and enjoyed a fine first season at Villa but his start to the last campaign was marred by injury.

The player failed to re-establish himself as a first choice, making just 14 Premier League starts – many of them out of position at left-back.

But it did nothing to diminish the esteem in which Young is held by fans, who gave him a standing ovation when he came on as a substitute in the final game of last season against Blackburn.