Heskey to be reunited with ex-boss O'Neill

Aston Villa today agreed a £4million deal to sign Emile Heskey from Wigan.

The transfer would see the England striker reunited with Martin O'Neill, who he thrived under at Leicester in the second half of the 1990s.

Heskey is out of contract this summer and initially indicated he was prepared to stay with Wigan until then. But the lure of playing again for O'Neill - and the possibility of Champions League football next season - appears to have changed his mind.

On the down-side for Villa, it emerged today that skipper Martin Laursen will be out for two months following knee surgery.

Wigan, meanwhile, have agreed a fee in the region of £5m for Reading winger Stephen Hunt.

Steve Bruce moved for the Republic of Ireland international after losing Wilson Palacios to Tottenham for £14m this week.