Aston Villa are ready to use Luke Moore as a makeweight in their bid for Rangers fullback Alan Hutton.

The Daily Mail says Villa are understood to be weighing up a cash-plus-player offer involving £3.5m- rated striker Moore. There are growing suggestions that Spurs boss Juande Ramos would be prepared to wait until the end of the season to sign Hutton for an initial £8m.

The player's second child is due in March and that has been a factor in delaying any move south.

Former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill has fielded an inquiry from Smith about Moore and a Hutton bid of up to £5m plus the Villa striker is bound to interest Rangers.