Martin O′Neill has dismissed talk that he would use Gary Cahill and Isaiah Osbourne to land Jason Koumas.
Villa are the latest club to be linked with a move for the West Bromwich Albion midfielder, and reports claimed that both Cahill and Osbourne maybe sent on loan to The Hawthorns as part of a deal for Koumas.
However, Villa manager O′Neill was quick to deny any such deal is being discussed.
"It′s absolute nonsense to say that and I have absolutely no idea where this story came from," O′Neill informed the club′s website.
Both Osbourne and Cahill were heavily involved during O′Neill′s maiden season at Villa Park and the pair will probably play significant roles in their next campaign.
17 06 2007
Porto defender Bruno Alves has dashed Villa′s expects of signing him by committing his future to the Portuguese club, as stated by his agent.
Centre half Alves was tracked by Martin O′Neill and his scouts for several months with the Villa manager keen to increase his back-four options.
But he seems likely to be forced to look elsewhere to strengthen with Alves vowing to see out the remaining 3 years of his contract.
He has stated his wish to play Champions League football and Porto can provide him with that next season.
Alves′ agent Christophe Mongai confirmed, "Villa were watching Bruno however they haven′t spoken to me about him and, as far as I know, they haven′t spoken to the club.
"He has 3 years left of his contract and I think he will be staying at Porto."
O′Neill currently has Olof Mellberg, Gary Cahill, Martin Laursen and Liam Ridgewell as his centre back options.
But Denmark international Laursen was dogged by injuries for the past 3 seasons and Ridgewell, out of favour during the 2nd half of last season, is attracting the interest of local rivals Birmingham.
O′Neill is also tracking Bolton goalie Jussi Jaaskelainen as his current number one, Thomas Sorensen, is unlikely to be offered an extension to his current contract which expires next summer.
08 06 2007
Villa look like having to wait until after the UEFA U21 Championships to have completed the signing of Nigel Reo-Coker from West Ham.
Reo-Coker has arrived in Holland with his international team mates however his £7 million move away from Upton Park still to be resolved.
Villa have made clear to Hammers officials that they are willing to offer something like the asking fee to land the services of the want-away Reo-Coker even though it has transpired no formal bid was registered.
But Villa manager Martin O'Neill is probably going to must wait until at least after England's final group game with Serbia on June 17 before he can complete what he expects will be the formalities of the transfer.
Given the mix up over Villa player Gabriel Agbonlahor's availability for the U21 squad, coach Stuart Pearce is unlikely to be in any mood to allow his captain Reo-Coker to become involved in transfer negotiations whilst England remain in the tournament.
Reo-Coker, who joined The Hammers from Wimbledon for £500,000 2 and a half years ago, has made it clear that is also where his immediate priorities lie.
He said; 'I see myself as a professional and I have got my professional hat on and right now it is all about England U21s and the European Championships.'
Reo-Coker will join up with 2 of his possible Villa team mates of the future in Ashley Young and Gary Cahill if the deal gets the green light.
He is poised to replace Gavin McCann whose £1 million plus move from Villa to Bolton is poised to go through subject to him passing a medical.
