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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Young set to wrap up Villa switch | Young set to wrap up Villa switch |
| (1 day later) | |
| Watford striker Ashley Young is set to join Premiership rivals Aston Villa on Tuesday in a deal initially worth £8m. | |
| The 21-year-old turned down a move to West Ham earlier this month and will now sign for Martin O'Neill's side. | The 21-year-old turned down a move to West Ham earlier this month and will now sign for Martin O'Neill's side. |
| Add-ons could eventually take the fee above Villa's record of £9.5m but O'Neill said: "Is it a risk? Not to me. | Add-ons could eventually take the fee above Villa's record of £9.5m but O'Neill said: "Is it a risk? Not to me. |
| "He has got great touch and a wee bit of pace too, he can play on both flanks and alongside the centre-forward as well. I am very excited about it." | "He has got great touch and a wee bit of pace too, he can play on both flanks and alongside the centre-forward as well. I am very excited about it." |
| News conference: Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill | News conference: Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill |
| England Under-21 international Young sat out the Premiership match between Villa and the Hornets on Saturday. | England Under-21 international Young sat out the Premiership match between Villa and the Hornets on Saturday. |
| My view is he will prove terrific value. Ashley is capable of great things Martin O'Neill | My view is he will prove terrific value. Ashley is capable of great things Martin O'Neill |
| Young is expected to make his debut in Villa's Premiership clash with Newcastle at St James' Park on 31 January. | Young is expected to make his debut in Villa's Premiership clash with Newcastle at St James' Park on 31 January. |
| O'Neill added: "I think he has got enormous potential and I think he will fulfil that. | O'Neill added: "I think he has got enormous potential and I think he will fulfil that. |
| "He is a really talented player. I have seen a lot of him and I am going to back my judgement. | "He is a really talented player. I have seen a lot of him and I am going to back my judgement. |
| "My own view is he will prove terrific value. He is only a young fellow and I have no doubt at all he is good enough. | "My own view is he will prove terrific value. He is only a young fellow and I have no doubt at all he is good enough. |
| "I have been really impressed with him and his maturity. I have seen Watford loads of time this season. When they see me coming, they probably have been thinking 'oh, no, not again!'. | "I have been really impressed with him and his maturity. I have seen Watford loads of time this season. When they see me coming, they probably have been thinking 'oh, no, not again!'. |
| "You think along the lines of 'will somebody be of value over the next four or five years?' and you base your decision on that. I believe Ashley is capable of great things." | "You think along the lines of 'will somebody be of value over the next four or five years?' and you base your decision on that. I believe Ashley is capable of great things." |
| O'Neill also said he was not worried about splashing out so much money on such a young, unproven player. | O'Neill also said he was not worried about splashing out so much money on such a young, unproven player. |
| 606: DEBATE I don't think he's worth over £8m but we've got the money so we may as well spend it! AR 606: Have your say | 606: DEBATE I don't think he's worth over £8m but we've got the money so we may as well spend it! AR 606: Have your say |
| "I have always been pretty careful with money, primarily because the clubs I've been involved with have not really had that much," said the 54-year-old Villa manager. | "I have always been pretty careful with money, primarily because the clubs I've been involved with have not really had that much," said the 54-year-old Villa manager. |
| "It will be the most money I've spent but at my age I've earned the right to do that. Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson can spend and it's all right. | "It will be the most money I've spent but at my age I've earned the right to do that. Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson can spend and it's all right. |
| "Am I supposed to stay down forever?" | "Am I supposed to stay down forever?" |