Steve Sidwell's Villa move delayed by pay-off demands

Steve SIdwell's proposed £5.5million transfer to Aston Villa is being delayed by a row over his Chelsea pay-off.

Midfielder Sidwell, 25, has three years left on his £50,000-a-week contract but the club want a quick profit on the player they signed free from Reading in 2007.

Villa have verbally agreed the fee with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon for Sidwell, who has been offered £35,000 a week, but the player is holding out for a £2m settlement.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill, meanwhile, will lead the chase for Everton's Andy Johnson with a £7m bid.

O'Neill will face competition from Wigan, Middlesbrough andWest Ham for Johnson.

But he could offer the attraction of UEFA Cup football, if Villa qualify via the InterToto Cup.

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