Villa play a waiting game for Reo-Coker

Jun 8 2007 By Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

VILLA are destined to wait at least another ten days before they can capture Nigel Reo-Coker.

Their failure to register a formal offer to the West Ham board by close of business last night means the player will fly out today with his England Under-21 colleagues for the European Championships.

But Reo-Coker has again insisted his future lies away from Upton Park.

The 23-year-old said: "It is time to go - make a clean break. It is time to move on. A bid has been made and it's up to the businessmen to come to some sort of arrangement.

"If I'm given permission to go and speak (to Villa), I'm given permission. But I've no control."

Following the Gabby Agbonlahor 'no-show', when a communication breakdown with Martin O'Neill resulted in Stuart Pearce being unable to call up the Villa striker, the Under-21s coach is unlikely to allow his skipper to be sidetracked by transfer talk during the tournament in Holland.

Reo-Coker, who is joined by Villa's Gary Cahill and Ashley Young in the touring party, will play against the Czech Republic on Monday and then faces at least two more group games against Italy on June 14 and Serbia on June 17.

Reo-Coker's agent Tony Finnigan has constantly spoken of a "bid" from Villa already having been made, but Hammers boss Alan Curbishley is not aware of such.

Curbishley said of Reo-Coker: "He is away with the Under-21s. I have heard nothing in respect of any activity. There are lots of rumours about our club at the moment.

"We can't go around answering it all. It has been indicated but, as of now, he is still a West Ham player."

Villa have remained tight-lipped throughout but Reo-Coker now wants to be able to concentrate on the Under-21 championships. "I see myself as a professional and I have got my professional hat on. And right now it is all about England Under-21s and the European Championships, simple as that."