Aston Villa will demand big-money for winger Ashley Young.

The London Evening Standard says Chelsea are set to step up their efforts to sign Ashley Young but will have to bid £25million to prise the winger from Aston Villa.

The Blues have been monitoring Young for some time and are now prepared to make a move as Villa are on the verge of completing a £12m deal for Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing.

Chelsea see the England international, who can play on either wing, as providing competition to Joe Cole, Florent Malouda and Yuri Zhirkov. Manchester United are also keen.

Villa insist Young is not for sale but it's understood they will listen to offers of £25m. That would mark a huge profit for Villa, who paid Watford £9.75m for the midfielder two years ago.