Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish hopes to OUTBID Chelsea for West Ham United midfielder Scott Parker.
The Sun says Chelsea fly to Malaysia on Sunday, with new boss Andre Villas-Boas keen to have West Ham midfielder Parker on board.
The Blues see former player Parker, 30, as an ideal stand-in for Michael Essien, who faces six months out after a knee op.
But their hopes could be scuppered by McLeish, who is ready to offer £8million to bring last season's Football Writers' Footballer of the Year to Villa Park.
Parker flew back from the Hammers' Swiss training camp last night and wants his future sorted as soon as possible.
The England ace is keen to return to Chelsea but the West Londoners are unwilling to meet West Ham's demands for a £4.5m fee as well as paying Parker's £65,000-a-week wages.
Yet Villa have cash to spend following Downing's £20m move to Liverpool yesterday.
McLeish is now ready to offer Parker a permanent return to the Premier League and is ready to match the player's wages.
