Lech Poznan resigned to losing Villa target Tonev

They have refused to deny talks have taken place with the claret and blues but sources in Poznan confirmed they are powerless to stop the winger leaving.

Villa are in a three-way fight with Celtic and Werder Bremen for the Bulgarian, who is valued at around £2.5million.

Villa have made their interest clear but are prepared to wait while the 23-year-old makes his choice.

Tonev is understood to favour a move to the Premier League despite Celtic being able to offer Champions League football.

Werder Bremen have also entered the race and general manager Thomas Eichin is hopeful of taking him to Germany.

He said: "Aleksandar Tonev is with Lech Poznan. It's true we would be happy if we could bring him over to our club.

"But, of course, there are other clubs hoping to also secure his services."

Meanwhile, Tottenham have reportedly offered Jermain Defoe in a cash-plus-player deal for Christian Benteke.

The England hitman is surplus to requirements at White Hart Lane but any deal would fly in the face of Villa's transfer policy.

Defoe is on £70,000-a week at Spurs and Villa are trimming their wage bill by offloading Richard Dunne and preparing to sell Shay Given, Darren Bent and Stephen Ireland.

Tottenham have offered the former West Ham striker to a number of Premier League clubs but they believe he would be a sweetner for any Benteke deal.

The 22-year-old is with the Belgium squad ahead of their World Cup qualifier with Serbia on Friday.

And team-mate Thibaut Courtois, on loan at Atletico Madrid from Chelsea, has already said he would be a perfect signing for Los Colchoneros.

The Spanish side are hunting a new striker after selling Radamel Falcao to Monaco for £51million and see Benteke as the ideal replacement.