ASTON VILLA boss Steven Gerrard is ready to fight Burnley for Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil.
Villa scouts are raving about the star and Gerrard has an inside track as they are with the same agency.
Sunderland are now weighing up offers for the 20-year-old.
Burnley see him as a long-term project, while Villa have the cash to move for him sooner.
Neil operates ni the centre of midfield and has racked up 32 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring three goals.
Meanwhile, Villa have won the race to sign Dundee United defender Kerr Smith, 17, a move we first revealed eight months ago.
The Villains have been incredibly active in the current transfer window.
They secured a loan deal for Philippe Coutinho and also brought in left-back Lucas Digne for £25million.
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Both had a quick impact after making their debuts against Manchester United on Saturday.
Digne started the 2-2 draw and impressed both in attack and defence.
Coutinho came off the bench with Villa were trailing 2-0 and managed to play a role in Villa’s first goal and then gobbled up the equaliser in front of an ecstatic Villa Park.
The result sees Aston Villa sitting 13th in the Premier League table.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk