Aston Villa will make a major offer for West Brom defender Curtis Davies this week.

The Guardian says O'Neill will need to part with another considerable sum to recruit Davies, the England Under-21 international, from Albion. Villa's interest has been registered and the Championship club are bracing themselves for an offer. Davies has spoken strongly about his desire to leave The Hawthorns and secure a return to the Premier League but Villa will need to make an offer of at least £8m before Jeremy Peace, Albion's chairman, considers accepting.

Sources indicate that O'Neill is prepared to meet that valuation but the Villa manager is likely to make a bid that will rise to £8m, subject to player and club achievements. Albion will hold out for more money up front, although it is possible O'Neill will eventually seek to broker a player-plus-cash deal. Either way, Villa have supplanted Tottenham in the race to sign the 22-year-old.