Villa set to sign French ace

Aston Villa are closing in on Tottenham defender Younes Kaboul after Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp let the cat out of the bag.

Portsmouth and Sunderland were believed to be heading the queue for the want-away Spurs defender, with the Black Cats actually holding talks with the Frenchman over the weekend.

Pompey boss Redknapp says the player would prefer to sign for his side but has now come out and claimed that Villa are on the verge of wrapping up a deal for him.

"Kaboul wants to come here but I heard he is going to Villa. I don't think there is anything he (chief executive Peter Storrie) can do about it," Redknapp revealed.

"If Villa are in for him he may have to go there. We made an offer with what we thought was a fair valuation."

Villa are in need of a new central defender as Curtis Davies will miss the start of the season and it looks as though Kaboul is heading to Villa Park, although Martin O'Neill has yet to confirm or deny Redknapp's claims.