The 23-year-old handed in a transfer request at Upton Park at the end of the season, saying he wished to play somewhere he felt wanted, and Alan Curbishley said he would listen to offers of £8m. Martin O'Neill has made it clear that a midfielder is amongst his priorities this summer to play alongside Stilian Petrov and Reo-Coker apparently fits the bill though Villa face competition from Arsenal, Tottenham and