Villa plan twin bid
Villa were today poised to make combined bids of up to £15m to land Albion central defender Curtis Davies and Hearts keeper Craig Gordon. Villa were today poised to make combined bids of up to £15m to land Albion central defender Curtis Davies and Hearts keeper Craig Gordon. Both Villa and Sunderland have been given permission to speak to Gordon, who was set to be pulled out of Hearts' SPL opener against Hibernian tonight. Boss Martin O'Neill is expected to tempt the Baggies with an £8m offer for wantaway Davies and the Villa chief is prepared to pay between £6m-£7m for Gordon. Sources have indicated Villa expect one or both players on board for Saturday's big kick-off against Liverpool. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
Both Villa and Sunderland have been given permission to speak to Gordon, who was set to be pulled out of Hearts' SPL opener against Hibernian tonight.
Boss Martin O'Neill is expected to tempt the Baggies with an £8m offer for wantaway Davies and the Villa chief is prepared to pay between £6m-£7m for Gordon.
Sources have indicated Villa expect one or both players on board for Saturday's big kick-off against Liverpool.
Gordon has been on Villa's radar all summer, but injury to Thomas Sorensen, who will miss the weekend opener, and Sunderland's £9m package offer for the keeper, has prompted O'Neill to act now.
Villa's offer may be more appealing in the short term as Sunderland's is believed to be £5m up front, with the rest based on add-ons over two to three years.
Hearts have insisted Gordon won't leave for less than £10m, but they may have to settle for less.
The 24-year-old, who has made 176 appearances for his only club and has 23 Scotland caps, is well known to O'Neill from his time at Celtic.
O'Neill admits he may have to pay over the odds.
He said: "At some stage I'll have to do something against the grain. But in this day and age I don't know what is outlandish money."
O'Neill said he had missed out on transfer targets because of sky-high prices.
One of those appears to be first choice right-back Jose Bosingwa, with Porto demanding £5m-£6m.
Mark Delaney looks set to become the 10th player to leave Villa since April.
He wouldn't comment on weekend reports he has been forced to retire because of his knee problems but the club are set to confirm the news in an announcement.