Villa hammered by payment

When the then 16-year-old defender made the switch from Upton to Villa Park in 2001, a Football League tribunal ruled £50,000 was payable initially. West Ham would also be entitled to 15 per cent of any transfer fee should Ridgewell ever leave Villa, but the likelihood of that happening has been reduced after the player has recently signed a new three-year contract after becoming a first-team regular.

Ridgewell was part of Villa's FA Youth Cup winning side in 2002 and had a loan spell at Bournemouth before being eased into the first team picture. He has made the headlines in recent weeks after conceding four penalties in the space of five matches but with Olof Mellberg, Laursen and Gary Cahill all sidelined he is currently the only fit centre-back in the squad.