Source: Daily_Mail
Villa agree £9.5m move for Charles N'Zogbia
Aston Villa have agreed a ?9.5million fee with Wigan over signing winger Charles N'Zogbia. Wigan had rejected Villa's bid of ?9m for the former Newcastle player earlier this month, but have now agreed to sell.[LNB]The two clubs held further discussions over the weekend and agreed on a compromise figure of ?9.5m.[LNB] On the move: Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia is close to a move to Aston Villa[LNB]A Villa statement read: 'The club are pleased to confirm that we have agreed a fee with Wigan for French international winger Charles N'Zogbia.[LNB]'We will now discuss personal terms with the player and arrange a medical, with a view to completing the transfer later this week.'[LNB]New Villa boss Alex McLeish needs a new winger after the departures of Ashley Young and Stewart Downing to Manchester United and Liverpool respectively this summer.[LNB]But a deal would also suit Wigan as N'Zogbia could leave them for nothing next summer when his current contract runs out, although a transfer now will depend on club owner Dave Whelan giving his seal of approval.[LNB]N'Zogbia will hold talks over personal terms in the next 24 hours and undergo a medical before signing what is expected to be a five-year deal.[LNB] The departed: McLeish wants to sign N'Zogbia after losing Stewart Downing and Ashley Young [LNB]It is a case of second time lucky for Scot McLeish who 12 months ago thought he had signed N'Zogbia when in charge of Birmingham, only for the deal to collapse at the 11th hour after Blues failed to agree personal terms with the player.N'Zogbia will be reunited with his former Newcastle team-mate Shay Given, who last week became McLeish's first signing of the summer in a ?3.5m move from Manchester City.[LNB]The news was greeted by Villa striker Darren Bent, who is with the rest of the squad on their pre-season tour of Asia.[LNB]On his Twitter account, Bent wrote: 'Great news about @charlesNzo, hopefully the club can get the deal over the line'[LNB]But he would be likely to have to wait to join up with Villa's first-team squad.[LNB]McLeish's team are currently on a pre-season tour of Hong Kong and N'Zogbia does not have the required work visa. [LNB] All the latest Aston Villa news, features and opinionVilla to beat Everton to N'Zogbia signature after offering ?10m for Wigan wingerAston Villa striker Bent laments sale of Young and Downing Villa target N'Zogbia left out of Wigan's pre-season tour of Austria[LNB]
