Aston Villa are expected to make formal offers for the Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon and the West Bromwich Albion central defender Curtis Davies in the next 48 hours as Martin O'Neill seeks to reinforce his squad before Saturday's opening Premier League fixture against Liverpool.
It is understood that the Villa manager is close to agreeing a deal for Gordon that values the player at €13.3 million, while Albion's resolve will be tested with a bid of close to €11.8 million for Davies.
Hearts rejected Sunderland's approach for Gordon last month because a large proportion of the fee was subject to clauses but it is believed the Edinburgh club will be tempted by Villa's bid that proposes €8.9 million up front - €1.5 million more than Sunderland were willing to pay - with €4.5 million to follow in add-ons. Talks between Villa and Hearts are believed to have been far from straightforward but it is possible that Gordon's transfer will be agreed after tonight's match against Hibernian.
The fee might seem excessive for a 24-year-old who has never played in the Premier League but O'Neill, anxious to bring in a goalkeeper before Thomas Sorensen's hamstring injury ruled him out of the Liverpool match, knows the Hearts captain well from his time in Scotland.
The Villa manager might have considered Liverpool's Scott Carson, expected to be second choice behind Pepe Reina, but sources close to the England international insist Rafael Benitez would not countenance another season-long loan following his spell at Charlton last season. That impasse means it would take a substantial offer to prise Carson from Anfield.
O'Neill will need to part with another considerable sum to recruit Davies from Albion.
Davies has spoken strongly about his desire to leave The Hawthorns and secure a return to the Premier League but Villa will need to make an offer of at least €11.8 million before Albion's accept. Sources indicate O'Neill is prepared to meet that valuation but the Villa manager is likely to make a bid that will rise to €11.8 million, subject to player and club achievements.
Meanwhile, England's prospects of qualifying for Euro 2008 have suffered a potentially serious blow after it emerged their captain, John Terry, faces up to a month on the sidelines after suffering medial ligament damage to his knee, leaving his availability in serious doubt for the critical qualifiers against Israel and Russia next month.
Guardian Service
