Aston Villa have beaten Chelsea and Liverpool for Le Havre prospect Gueida Fofana.

Fofana is France's U19 captain and tipped to fill Patrick Vieira's former role as Les Bleus' midfield mainstay.

It is understood that Le Havre have accepted a initial payment of about £800,000 in a deal that will see them net 20 per cent of the fee if Villa sell him on, says the Daily Mail.

Gerard Houllier has got his man on a knockdown fee because the midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season.

Liverpool and Chelsea have also followed his progress, but Houllier's links have proved decisive.

Fofana, a 6ft imposing figure, captained his country to the Under 19 European Championship crown on home soil during the summer.

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