Villa boss makes first transfer moves

Villa boss Alex McLeish has vowed to stamp his authority on the squad as he ponders his first move in the transfer market - but winger Stewart Downing is set for Liverpool.

The manager will not receive most of the £17million received as part of Ashley Young's sale to Manchester United, as the club look to bring their wage bill under control.

But should Downing move to Merseyside, for a reported fee of £16million, McLeish would get a large portion of the fee to reinvest in the squad, with a goalkeeper and another wide player high on his list of priorities.

McLeish is keen to recruit goalkeeper Ben Foster from former club Birmingham, although they will not let him leave on the cheap, so West Ham's Robert Green, who is keen on a move to Villa, remains an option.

Wigan winger Charles N'Zogbia is McLeish's number one attacking target – having tried to lure him to the Midlands when he was in charge of Blues – while Stoke wide man Matthew Etherington was also linked with the club at the weekend.

One player unlikely to move to Villa is Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam, who is poised to join Liverpool, but McLeish is happy with the number of midfield options already at his disposal.

And the Villa boss is looking forward to the hard work on the training ground when his players report for pre-season on July 8.

He said: "I've got to impart my personality on the team – the spirit and the character.

"I can see that character in a lot of the guys that are already there. The seasoned pros should be the guys that are really leading the way. It's vitally important that these guys help the young ones.

"I want my players to be straight up and honest and give everything they can for the football club and for themselves."