Villa left red faced over bid claims

Aston Villa were left looking embarrassed last night after Newcastle issued a statement denying the David O'Leary-managed club's afternoon claim that they had agreed fees for Craig Bellamy and Aaron Hughes.

"Despite reports to the contrary, Newcastle United have not agreed any fees with Aston Villa over the sale of Craig Bellamy and Aaron Hughes," read a statement from St James' Park, even though Villa thought they had agreed deals with the players on Tuesday night.

Villa's chairman Doug Ellis and O'Leary will now have to explain to perplexed supporters how matters developed. Neither can be satisfied with the role of Newcastle, who had been understood to have granted Villa permission to talk to Bellamy on Tuesday, but have now said they had not.

Given that Bellamy's estimated £45,000-a-week salary is well beyond Villa's wage structure, it is also surprising they embarked on this route. There would also be a hefty fee - £6 million is the minimum Newcastle want for their exiled striker - which taken with a three-year contract would mean a total of about £15 million.

The biggest hurdle of all for Villa, though, would be persuading the forward to join the club as they cannot offer him European football next season. Bellamy, who has been on loan at Celtic since his fallout with Newcastle manager Graeme Souness, has time on his side and can pick and choose his next move.

Villa are more likely to have success in recruiting Hughes, who would cost around £1.5 million, although he has yet to have contact with O'Leary.

There was confirmation yesterday that Patrick Kluivert will be leaving. The Dutchman's contribution has been negligible and Newcastle have opted not to offer him another year.

Meanwhile, Chelsea and Ashley Cole will hear the verdict of the Premier League's "tap-up" inquiry on June 1st after the conclusion yesterday of the hearing set up to consider the charges.

Though that might point to the commission being belatedly sensitive to Arsenal's participation in the FA Cup final it is instead down to the weight of evidence it must sift through in order to reach its verdict.

The Arsenal manager admitted yesterday the deteriorating relationship between the club and Cole's agent Jonathan Barnett could scupper his hopes of keeping the left back.

The Frenchman voiced fears that Barnett will attempt to move Cole out of Arsenal, despite previously saying that he would stay. Chelsea are not expected to sign the defender but clubs including Barcelona and Real Madrid are understood to be monitoring the situation.

"We have no rift with Ashley Cole at all because we want to keep Ashley Cole," Wenger said. "With his agent? I think let's first let this story (inquiry) be completed and then we can see what happens. I'm more concerned that the agent will try to move Ashley Cole than us not wanting to talk to his agent."

In other news, Southampton manager Harry Redknapp looks set to stay on at St Mary's for next year's Championship campaign after holding talks with the relegated club's chairman Rupert Lowe.