Reo-Coker urges Hammers to let him go

Jun 23 2007 By Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

NIGEL Reo-Coker has held clear-the-air talks with West Ham in a bid to ease a move through to Villa.

The England under-21 midfielder is desperate to join Villa but the two clubs are poles apart in terms of a valuation.

Villa are keen to pay £7million, or thereabouts, and may raise the stakes to a degree.

But the Hammers are believed to be wanting around £12 million - which has cooled Villa's interest.

Reo-Coker met with the Hammers board yesterday in a bid to try and get them to lower their asking price to facilitate a move to Villa.

Villa are keen to start spending after a frustrating summer.

Martin O'Neill has drawn up a lengthy list of targets which include a striker, a goalkeeper and probably two, two full-backs, a replacement for the outgoing Liam Ridgewell and also a couple of midfield players.

Meanwhile, Villarreal director Jose Manuel Llaneza Dura says they have received no offers for £15million striker Diego Forlan and are confident the player will stay.

Liverpool, Sunderland and Villa have made enquiries about his services, with O'Neill scouring Europe for a partner for John Carew.

"Forlan's situation is very clear," Dura said. "He has told us that he does not want to leave and that he is happy here.

"Besides, our desire is that he stays with us," he added. "We are conscious, however, that he has a buy-out clause (£15m) and if somebody agrees to meet that then he could go.

"As of now, no club has had direct contact with Villarreal to say that they are willing to pay the amount specified in his contract.

"If this were to happen though, the club is ready to react."