Members of the Irish consortium aiming to buy Aston Villa insist their takeover plan is still on course, despite reports it was in trouble. Villa's majority shareholder Doug Ellis had concerns over some financial criteria of the plan not being met.
But according to the Press Association, a source close to the group said the �64m bid is still "in good shape", just slightly behind schedule.
The delay might end any signings David O'Leary may have planned for January.
With James Milner and Eirik Bakke on loan from Newcastle and Leeds respectively, O'Leary has used up his quota of domestic loan signings and must look abroad if he wants to make any more short-term signings.
He has said it "would not take a rocket scientist" to see that a new central defender would be a priority, and he is thought to be interested in Juventus' Croatian centre-back Igor Tudor, who has spent the first half of the season on loan at Siena.
MMIX
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