The Daily Mail are reporting as an exclusive that Aston Villa and Liverpool have agree a fee for the England midfielder. Liverpool will pay £17.5million and throw in Steve Finnan for good measure. This brings the deal to around £19million, which is more than the reported £18million fee Villa were holding out for.

If this report turns out to be accurate then it's a great day to be Martin O'Neill. He stuck to his guns and waited it out and has got a fee that he believes is acceptable for a player of this magnitude. Well done MO'N.

But maybe they struck the deal a little too late. Blimey!