With the transfer window about to open again Andy Hampson looks at who will be buying and who will be selling over January

ASTON VILLA are poised to confirm the controversial appointment of Alex McLeish as manager.

ASTON VILLA have revealed their intention to interview Alex McLeish “imminently” regarding their vacant managerial position.

AMONG the many banners on the Stretford End the small one that says ‘Not arrogant, just better’ is looking more and more like summing it all up as Manchester United further underlined their dominance of the title race with Wayne Rooney looking back on song last night.

ASTON VILLA dropped into the bottom three of the Barclays Premier League for the first time in seven years as their former loan signing Phil Bardsley earned Sunderland victory at Villa Park.

SUBSTITUTE Zavon Hines scored an injury-time winner against 10-man Aston Villa to lift the struggling Hammers out of the bottom three of the Premier League.

ASHLEY YOUNG has come to symbolise Aston Villa’s tumultuous season, his early-term sparkle having long since rubbed off to leave nothing but faded memories.

ASTON VILLA manager Martin O’Neill is optimistic his side can still reach the last 16 of the UEFA Cup despite being held to a 1-1 home draw by CSKA Moscow last night.

IF a side’s ability to win when they fall well short of their own high standards is a gauge of their ability to compete at the very highest level, Aston Villa’s top four rivals have every right to feel nervous as the season’s end-game approaches.

MARTIN O’NEILL may have stumbled across a new motivational technique for John Carew.

Aston Villa 2 Ajax 1

JOHN CAREW believes it is a 50-50 bet that Gareth Barry remains with Aston Villa.

STEVE BRUCE was left cursing the name of Gabriel Agbonlahor for the second time this season as Wigan’s recent revival was brought to a grinding halt in the JJB Stadium mud.

ASTON VILLA Martin O’Neill pointed the finger at Michael Ballack over a controversial penalty and condemned the performance of ref Phil Dowd during yesterday’s draw with Chelsea.

MARTIN O’NEILL is insistent that he has no interest in walking out on Aston Villa, but more results like this and it will not just be England wanting to speak to the Irishman.

The January transfer window has largely been used as an opportunity for Premiership clubs to tweak or bolster their squads rather than make wholesale changes.

ASTON VILLA moved closer to signing Mathieu Berson after his club Nantes conceded defeat in their bid to retain the midfielder.

ASTON VILLA fans are planning a march in protest against chairman Doug Ellis before the club’s next home match with Southampton in 12 days time.

ASTON VILLA skipper Gareth Barry is backing Juan Pablo Angel to become the 20-goals-a-season player who can bring the glory days back to the midlands club.

Birmingham 3 Aston Villa 0

Aston Villa 2 Charlton 0

Lille 1, Aston Villa 1,

FA Barclaycard Premiership half-times