Villa handed £8m price tag warning

West Ham have slapped an asking price of £8million on the head of central-defender Anton Ferdinand who is wanted by Aston Villa.

Villa manager Martin O'Neill is understood to be weighing up whether to firm up his interest in the Hammers player who was thought to be a target for Tottenham. However Spurs boss Juande Ramos now appears to have dropped out of the race for the highly-rated stopper.

West Ham are in no rush to sell but if the right offer were to come in then he could be on his way.

A reported source close to the Hammers said: "West Ham don't want Anton to go but his agent has not been in looking for a new contract so something might happen.

"They certainly would not let him go for £6million and would not be interested in any figure under £8million."