Tottenham are attempting to thrash out a deal for Aston Villa wing dazzler Ashley Young.

The Mail on Sunday says Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is preparing a £25million swap deal, involving David Bentley, to take Aston Villa winger Ashley Young to White Hart Lane.

Redknapp, who wants to oversee a big turnaround in personnel at the club this summer, will offer his £15m-rated winger in part-exchange for Young.

Young, who turned 24 on Thursday, has been in scintillating form for Villa over the past two years.

He was named by his fellow professionals in the last two Premier League all-star teams and has won four England caps.

O'Neill is loath to lose his brightest young star but accepts he will face a fight to keep the Stevenage-born player, who fancies a move to London.

Chelsea were also interested in signing Young until Florent Malouda's impressive late-season form for the FA Cup winners.