Aston Villa are reportedly closing in on the signature of Turkey international Tuncay Sanli after agreeing a £7million deal with Middlesbrough.

The Daily Mail claims that the move should be finalised this week after a deal was reached between the two clubs which will see Boro receive £5million up front and £2million to follow in add ons for the 27-year-old.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill finally made his move for the player he has admired for some time after increased interest from Premier League rivals Tottenham and concrete offers from Bundesliga sides Stuttgart and Cologne.

Tuncay - who has scored 16 goals in 74 appearances in his two years at the Riverside - would become Villa's fourth new recuit of the close season following the arrivals of Stewart Downing, Fabian Delp and Habib Beye.

Meanwhile, it is understood that O'Neill was at Boro's game with Sheffield United on Friday to run the rule over defensive pairing David Wheater and Robert Huth.

The Ulsterman, who still hopes to fend off competition from Sunderland and Manchester City for Portsmouth's Sylvain Distin, wants to recruit a commanding centre half before the start of the new season and has earmarked Wheater and Huth as possible options.