Villa bid for N’Zogbia accepted

N’Zogbia is out of contract at Wigan next summer

Aston Villa have agreed a fee with Wigan Athletic over the signing of winger Charles N’Zogbia.

The French international, 25, is now set to discuss personal terms with the Midlands club.

Villa said they hoped to complete the deal later this week as they rebuild following the sales of Stewart Downing and Ashley Young.

Neither club has announced the agreed fee, although reports suggest it is in the region of £9.5m.

Villa manager Alex McLeish came close to signing N’Zogbia last summer when in charge at Birmingham City, although the deal collapsed over personal terms.

He also saw a bid rejected for the former Newcastle United man earlier this month.

McLeish has now returned for the Wigan player after the sales of Young and Downing to Manchester United and Liverpool respectively left him short of wingers.

A Villa statement said: “The club are pleased to confirm we have agreed a fee with Wigan for French international winger Charles N’Zogbia.

“We will now discuss personal terms with the player and arrange a medical, with a view to completing the transfer later this week.”

A Wigan spokesman added: “The player has been given permission to speak to Villa and the club will be making no further comment on the issue until the completion of the transfer.”

N’Zogbia, who would be out of contract at Wigan next summer, is likely to have to wait to join up with Villa’s first-team squad.

They are currently on a pre-season tour of Hong Hong and N’Zogbia does not have the required work visa.

He would instead train at Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training complex if and when the deal is formally completed.