Aston Villa have agreed a fee with Chelsea to sign midfielder Steve Sidwell, who had also interested Newcastle United.

The Villans are set to complete the capture in the next 24 hours with the 25-year-old needing to pass the medical.

Sidwell had joined the Blues last summer, but failed to get regular football at Stamford Bridge.

Villa boss Martin O’Neill had apparently identified the former Reading star as the ideal replacement as he resigned to losing Gareth Barry to Liverpool.

Although Barry’s transfer is yet to go through as the Villans hold out for £18m, the signing of Sidwell is expected to expedite the matter as the Reds wait to welcome the England midfielder with Steve Finnan reportedly to be made part of the player-plus-cash deal.