Villa To Offer N'Zogbia Route Out Of Toon?

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Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill is to step up his efforts to sign Charles N’Zogbia from Premier League rivals Newcastle United and is ready to offer Nicky Shorey as part of the deal in order to land the Frenchman.

Magpies boss Joe Kinnear has insisted that N’Zogbia will not be allowed to leave St James’ Park in January, with Tottenham Hotspur also reportedly interested in the versatile left-sided player, who is keen on a move away from the Premiership side.

Despite not wanting N’Zogbia to leave, Kinnear is an admirer of England International Shorey, who has fallen out of favour at Villa Park since his £3.5million switch from Championship club Reading in the summer. With a straight swap deal between the Toon and the Villans being mooted for the pair.

22-year-old N’Zogbia had expressed a desire to play for Arsenal recently, but Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has ruled out the possibility of the former Le Havre player arriving at the Emirates Stadium this month.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is also a fan of N’Zogbia and the Frenchman’s versatility makes the player an attractive proposition for Redknapp, who is keen to add balance to the left-hand side of the squad at White Hart Lane.

However, with Kinnear interested in 27-year-old Shorey and N’Zogbia desperate for a move away from the North East a swap involving the pair is the most likely outcome. If the two clubs can broker a deal that would see all parties happy.