Aston Villa are holding talks with Emile Heskey after agreeing a £3.5m fee with Wigan.
Midlands club agree £3.5million fee with Wigan
Aston Villa have confirmed they are holding talks with Emile Heskey after agreeing a £3.5million fee with Wigan Athletic.
Sky Sports News revealed earlier on Friday that the two clubs had reached a deal for the England international.
Heskey has been strongly linked with an exit during the winter transfer window, with his current contract due to expire in the summer.
The Latics have now opted to cash-in on his services rather than risk losing the 31-year-old on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Heskey, who has netted three goals in 20 Premier League appearances this season, looks poised to link up again with Villa boss Martin O'Neill, under whom he made his name at Leicester City.
O'Neill believes Heskey, who will sign a three-and-a-half-year contract, will prove a valuable addition to his squad as can play alongside either Gabriel Agbonlahor or John Carew.
"We have agreed a fee with Wigan, and Emile is making his way down here to undergo a medical," said O'Neill.
"If that works out, he will be joining us.
Momentum
"We are in a decent position at the moment. We need to keep the momentum going. We don't have the biggest squad in the world, and currently John Carew is out and Ashley Young is suspended.
"Emile will bring something to us. 'Gabby' has done fantastic up front on his own, and Emile will give us another option.
"He can play with either 'Gabby' or John. He will be excellent for us. He is currently vying to be the number one England centre-forward - so in terms of value, this is a great deal for us."
