Martin O'Neill expects to seal a second transfer victory over Portsmouth rival Harry Redknapp in 24 hours by signing Spurs defender Younes Kaboul for £6million after the £4m capture of Reading’s Nicky Shorey last night.
Left-back Shorey snubbed a move to Fratton Park to sign a three-year deal with Villa and O’Neill will add £11m to his summer transfer bill in the next 48 hours by signing former French Under-21 central defender Kaboul and Middlesbrough right-back Luke Young for £5m.
Redknapp has virtually conceded defeat in the battle for Kaboul who, according to sources close to him, has set his sights on a move to Villa Park despite interest from Sunderland and Portsmouth.
O’Neill has been notoriously cautious in the transfer market this summer, but moved into overdrive yesterday by securing the services of 27-year-old Shorey after he completed a medical at Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training complex.
Shorey was looking for an instant return to the Premier League after last season’s relegation at Reading and the England defender was lured by the O’Neill factor and the potential at Villa.
“I can achieve all my ambitions at Villa and I’m delighted to have signed,” he said. “It came out of the blue a little bit, but this is a great challenge for me.
“There were others interested, but Villa is such a big club. When you speak to a manager you want to get a good feel for what he is trying to do and I did straight away with Martin. He made me feel wanted and that is a big factor. He is very positive and ambitious. That is what I am. I want to get back in the Premier League and show people what I’m capable of.
Shorey is guaranteed to start the season as first-choice left-back after Wilfred Bouma broke his ankle and is expected to be joined by Young today, on another three-year deal, when Villa complete the remaining issues over his personal terms.