Gerard Houllier is pulling out all the stops in an effort to land the Blackpool midfielder and see off rival bidder Alex McLeish. Villa were waiting to hear whether their latest offer had been rejected.
In demand: Villa are desperate to land Blackpool's captain Charlie Adam
Birmingham manager McLeish is also interested but may be unwilling to match a valuation in excess of £3m. Blackburn, Sunderland and Everton are also monitoring events.
Blackpool for their part remain keen on signing Dundee United's £1.5m-rated striker David Goodwillie.
Considering his options: Rangers striker Miller (left) could join Birmingham
Birmingham are still waiting for a response from Rangers' Kenny Miller who is understood to prefer a switch to Fiorentina over a move to St Andrew's.
They have given Newcastle permission to speak to midfielder Sebastian Larsson after agreeing a £1m fee but Sunderland are waiting in the wings.
Meanwhile, Blackpool defender Dekel Keinan is wanted by Cardiff after they watched him in Saturday's FA Cup defeat at Southampton.
The Israel centre-back, 25, signed from Maccabi Haifa last summer on a one-year deal with an option for a further 12 months, is also a target for QPR. 'I have heard Cardiff want me, and it is important for me to be playing,' he said.
Under-fire West Ham boss Avram Grant dismisses fresh talk of the sack from Upton Park hotseatStruggling West Ham in £2.5m battle to sign Odense striker UtakaBlackburn and Birmingham first out the blocks in race for Blackpool's Charlie AdamBLACKPOOL FC
Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail