VILLA'S BENNI BID REJECTED

Villa boss John Gregory increased his original offer for the South African striker who is also believed to have attracted the interest of Celta's La Liga rivals Valencia. To view this story, click here

McCarthy was also reported to be the target of Italian giants Roma, but the South African's agent, Rob Moore, denied these claims in an exclusive interview with planetfootball.com. To read this article, click here

The Spanish club are said to want £14-15 million for the striker, and Gregory admits the club are a long way short of Celta's valuation.

"We're too far apart and I can't see us taking it any further," Gregory told the official Villa website.

"Unless we pay that kind of money I don't think we'll be getting him."

With Dion Dublin out of sorts and loan signing Gilles de Bilde yet to score for The Villans', a striker has been top of Gregory's wanted list for some time.

But it appears Gregory will have to turn his attentions elsewhere as he bids to bolster Villa's impotent attack.