Steve Sidwell's £5.5million switch from Chelsea to Aston Villa is being delayed over a row regarding his Stamford Bridge pay-off.

Sidwell, who has three years remaining on his £50,000-a-week contract, is holding out for £2m settlement, according to The Daily Mirror.Chelsea on a free transfer from Reading in 2007.

Villa are understood to have verbally agreed the fee with Chelsea for Sidwell but the 25-year-old is not budging on his payment demands .