Villa agree fee with Newcastle for Bellamy

Aston Villa have agreed a fee with Premier League rivals Newcastle United for Wales striker Craig Bellamy, the club's chairman Doug Ellis said yesterday.

Ellis said the Birmingham-based club had also agreed a fee for Newcastle's Northern Ireland international defender Aaron Hughes.

Newcastle, however, said in a statement on their website that no fee has been agreed with any club for the sale of Bellamy and Hughes.

If a deal goes ahead it will bring to three the number of recruits lured to Villa Park by manager David O'Leary.

On Tuesday, Czech midfielder Patrik Berger, a free agent after two seasons at Portsmouth, agreed a two-year contract with Villa and was due to sign yesterday following a medical.

The 25-year-old Bellamy fell out with Newcastle manager Graeme Souness in January and spent the remainder of the season on loan at Celtic.

Before going to the Scottish club, Villa's local rivals Birmingham had agreed a fee of £6.0 million for the speedy Welshman. Bellamy had joined Newcastle from Coventry City for the same fee in 2001.

Villa finished a disappointing season last weekend in 10th place in the Premier League with 47 points from 38 matches, almost exactly half the number of points of champions Chelsea.