Villa hold Young talks

Aston Villa are in talks with defender Luke Young after agreeing terms with Middlesbrough for the England international.

Young has spent just a season at the Riverside Stadium following his move from Charlton but now looks set to start the season with Villa, who are desperate for cover on either side of their defence.

Young, 29, cost Boro a cut-price £2.5m after the Addicks’ relegation last year but manager Gareth Southgate is likely to have negotiated a profit on a player who impressed in an inexperienced back four last year.

If the player can agree terms he will finally provide Villa with a first-choice right-back after the departure of last year’s incumbent Olof Mellberg, who has since left the club for Juventus.