Villa made to wait on Reo-Coker
Villa were today still waiting to confirm the £8m arrival of Nigel Reo-Coker - as Chris Sutton prepared to announce a decision on his future. Villa were today still waiting to confirm the £8m arrival of Nigel Reo-Coker - as Chris Sutton prepared to announce a decision on his future. West Ham and Villa are believed to be moving ever closer to agreement on the fee, with the player set to sign a four-year deal worth £35,000 a week following a successful medical. But the move has been complicated by payments due to the player which should be settled shortly. Read the full story in today's Express & Star
West Ham and Villa are believed to be moving ever closer to agreement on the fee, with the player set to sign a four-year deal worth £35,000 a week following a successful medical.
But the move has been complicated by payments due to the player which should be settled shortly.
Sutton, who was out of contract at the weekend, wanted to delay a decision on his future until the players returned back for the start of pre-season training.
That was today, with all of Villa's non-international contingent reporting to the £13m Bodymoor Heath complex for the first time.
Steven Davis was expected to be one absentee from the start of training as his £4m move to Fulham nears completion.
Manager Martin O'Neill has previously cast doubts as to whether the 34-year-old striker would continue, as the player is still experiencing blurred vision following his bruised retina sustained against Manchester United on December 17 last year and hasn't played since.
"It's been more than frustrating for everyone concerned, especially for Chris, but it's crucial we get it right," said O'Neill.
"I don't think Chris in the latter stages of his career, wants to be going into games thinking the next time he hurts himself his vision is impaired permanently.
"So if we get guarantees at some stage that a bang on the head won't give him that type of injury, then fine, but no one has been able to give us that yet.
Sources meanwhile have suggested Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe won't be moving to Villa.
O'Neill remains a big admirer of the England international, whose prospects of regular first team football are threatened by the £16.5m arrival of Darren Bent.