Cuellar set for Villa switch

Rangers defender poised for £7.8m move

By Lewis Rutledge   Last updated: 12th August 2008

Carlos Cuellar

Cuellar: Fee agreed

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Aston Villa have agreed a fee with Rangers for Spanish defender Carlos Cuellar.

Cuellar has been linked with a move away from Ibrox since Rangers lost their UEFA Champions League qualifier against FBK Kaunas last week.

Walter Smith had been hoping to keep the 26-year-old but Villa have now made a bid of 10million euros (£7.8million) which triggered a release clause in his Rangers contract.

Villa are now set to hold talks with Cuellar On Tuesday and he will officially join the Premier League club if he passes a medical.

"I came to Rangers due to the professional manner of their officials and management and their promise of success," Cuellar told the Scottish club's official website.

"Everything I had been told about this fantastic club has been true and last year's Uefa Cup run is something I will never forget.

"My ambition has always been to play for my national team and I believe that playing in the biggest league in the world for Aston Villa will help me realise that."

Cuellar moved to Rangers from Osasuna last summer and enjoyed a superb debut campaign, earning him the Scottish Premier League Player of the Year award.

Martin O'Neill has been busy strengthening his backline over the last couple of weeks and has already brought in full-backs Nicky Shorey and Luke Young.