England defender Young has a year left on his Middlesbrough contract and although boss Gareth Southgate is reluctant to sell, the cash will be handy as he looks to buy Reading’s £5m-rated James Harper.

Young had talks with Martin O’Neill yesterday and is set to sign once personal terms are agreed.

He is hoping a move to Villa Park will reignite his chances of making the England squad and feels a switch will help him catch the eye of coach Fabio Capello.

O’Neill is also determined to complete a £4m deal for Nicky Shorey and avoid losing a second transfer target to Harry Redknapp.

He is ready to offer £30,000-a-week for the Reading defender, who has also attracted the interest of Roy Keane at Sunderland.

The Villa boss has already lost out to Redknapp for Younes Kaboul, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe and Lassana Diarra. But after Wilfred Bouma’s ankle injury, O’Neill is desperate to sign a recognised left-back.