Aston Villa have fended off late interest from Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur to agree the signing of Fabian Delph from Leeds United for a fee that could rise to £8m.
The 19-year-old midfielder, who is regarded as one of English football’s most promising talents, will travel to the Midlands tomorrow to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical before signing a four-year contract after Villa agreed an initial down payment of £6m with add-ons to follow.
Having failed with a bid for Delph several weeks ago, Villa had been reluctant to return to the negotiating table and feared that Leeds were trying to create an auction, but their stance changed once it emerged that City as well as Tottenham were keen on signing the youngster.
Villa promptly increased their offer to meet Leeds’ valuation and, although City and Spurs tried to hijack the deal, the League One club refused to renege on their earlier agreement.
Delph, whose emergence at Elland Road last season was rewarded with a first England Under-21 cap when he was called up to face the Czech Republic in November, becomes Villa’s second signing of the summer following the £12m recruitment of the winger Stewart Downing from Middlesbrough last month. The teenager had made only three appearances before last season but Martin O’Neill, the Villa manager, will expect him to compete for a first-team place immediately.
