Everton target Nigel Reo-Coker may make way as Aston Villa hunt Fabian Delph

Jul 10 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

NIGEL Reo-Coker could become the first victim of Martin O’Neill’s pursuit of Fabian Delph with David Moyes set to make an offer to tempt the unsettled midfielder to Everton.

Reo-Coker is known to have become increasingly frustrated at playing only a bit-part at Villa last season.

Tottenham were linked with the former West Ham skipper earlier this summer in a swap deal involving Tom Huddlestone, David Bentley or Jermaine Jenas.

Reo-Coker started only half of Villa’s 38 Premier League games last year, which included a stint at right-back as he could not force his way beyond Gareth Barry and Stiliyan Petrov.

Barry may have moved on but Reo-Coker still sees his future as away from the club where he has started 68 games in two seasons following an £8 million move from Upton Park.

Everton may struggle to match Villa’s valuation, who would want to recoup most of the money they laid out on the 25-year-old.

What is also intriguing is that although Villa are believed to be well positioned to land teenager Delph, despite having had an initial bid rejected by Leeds chairman Ken Bates, Everton are also in the hunt and a bidding war could ensue.

So as a sweetener, Villa are prepared to offer young striker Nathan Delfouneso to Leeds on a year-long loan deal.

Leeds yesterday confirmed that two approaches had been made and immediately knocked back for a player who comes with a huge reputation similar to that enjoyed by Southampton’s Theo Walcott, despite having played only one full season of football in League One.

Former Villa utility player Simon Grayson is under no pressure to offload Delph but a sale looks inevitable.