Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is set to firm up a bid for Chelsea's versatile midfielder Geremi this week.
Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce has also confirmed his interest in Geremi, but admitted that his club would face competition from a number of their Premier League rivals.
Reports claim Villa are one among them and set to act quickly with owner-chairman Randy Lerner jetting into England to oversee one and possibly two arrivals at the club in the next few days.
O'Neill is in the market for a right-back after letting Aaron Hughes join Fulham - and he believes Geremi can fill that role, as well as providing cover across the rest of defence and in midfield.
