Villa To Test Hammers Resolve With £16million Ashton Offer?

Aston Villa will have to smash their club transfer record for a second time in a week if they wish to prise England International Dean Ashton away from West Ham United, according to reports.

The Villans have already had an offer of £12million turned down by the Hammers, with the East London side reluctant to let their target man leave Upton Park following the £8million departure of Anton Ferdinand to Sunderland last week.

24-year-old Ashton signed a new five-year deal with West Ham this summer, with sources close to the player suggesting that the striker would only consider a move to one of the ‘big four’ clubs.

However Villa boss Martin O’Neill will be boosted by the addition of James Milner for a club record £12million from Newcastle United to his Midlands side, having first met with resistance from the Magpies for the signature of the former Leeds midfielder.

With O’ Neill banking on cashing in on the present turmoil at West Ham after reports of the Icelandic owners wanting to reduce costs at the Hammers. He could bring Ashton to Villa Park for a fee in the region of £16million. Something that would not please Irons manager Alan Curbishley, who is uncertain of his own future at West Ham.