Villa move in on Reo-Coker

Reo-Coker is due to go on holiday on Friday and it is understood Villa and the player want to push a deal through before then.

West Ham want between £8m-£9m for the midfielder they signed for £500,000 three years ago.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill, who was back from a break yesterday, has been prepared to pay £7m.

But, with Manchester City and boss-in-waiting Sven Goran Eriksson waiting in the wings, O'Neill is now ready to bring a swift conclusion to the saga by striking a deal for the 23-year-old to become his first summer signing.

Eriksson is a firm admirer of Reo-Coker having called him into a full international squad before his departure last summer.

Reo-Coker may even meet City for talks, but sources say Villa are his first choice and he will commit to O'Neill.

O'Neill plans at least three more signings in addition to the former Wimbledon man, with a goalkeeper, right-back and another striker in his sights.

The transfer of Charlton striker Darren Bent to Tottenham could re-ignite Villa's interest in Jermain Defoe.

O'Neill has been linked with the England international before and he's another who fits the manager's signings profile of having pace and their best years to come.

The arrival of Reo-Coker will bring relief to Villa fans who have watched as Juan Pablo Angel, Gavin McCann, Jlloyd Samuel and Lee Hendrie have been allowed to leave without any incoming activity.

The fans are snapping up season tickets at a healthy rate. More than 16,000 have been sold as the club look to beat the record of 23,500 which greeted the £7m signing of Stan Collymore in 1997.