Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is preparing a bid to snatch Chelsea utility man Geremi from under the nose of Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce.

Allardyce has confirmed his interest in Geremi, who can play in defence or midfield, although he admitted the Magpies would face competition from a number of their Premier League rivals.

He told the club's official website: "Geremi is something we would like to pursue, but many other clubs in the Premier League will be doing exactly the same thing as Newcastle.

"Hopefully we can persuade him - if we get the opportunity - to join this football club and not the others who will be chasing him as well as us."

And the first of those clubs is Villa, according to The Daily Mail.