Aston Villa are ready to cut their losses over fullback Nicky Shorey.

The Sunday Mirror says Villa boss Martin O'Neill shelled out £3m to bring in Shorey from Reading last summer, but the player has failed to hit anything like his best form and has made only 13 appearances for Villa.

O'Neill is ready to cut his losses and Shorey could well be heading back to the Royals in a cut-price deal.