Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo Coker could be on the verge of an exit from Villa Park as early as January as Birmingham, Bolton and Blackburn battle for his signature.

The former England U21 skipper's future at Villa Park has been cast in doubt after he has made just four Premier League starts for Martin O’Neill so far this season.

The Villa Park pair were involved in a training ground bust-up earlier this season but O’Neill has insisted the feud has been remedied.

The Ulster man even named the former West Ham player as captain in last weekend’s 5-1 demolition over Bolton, which was his first league start since September.

However, the Premier League trio of Blackburn, Bolton and Birmingham are set to test O’Neill’s resolve in the next transfer window by making a £5million move for the dynamic ball winner.

Villains boss O’Neill already sees Steve Sidwell and club captain Stilyan Petrov as his first-choice pairing in midfield whilst Fabian Delph is fast emerging as an additional option ahead of Reo Coker.

The 25-year-old midfielder is out of contract at the end of next season and O’Neill would no doubt rather sell than risk losing him for nothing in 2011.

A move to West Midland rivals Birmingham would no doubt infuriate Villa fans and the possibility of future abuse might be enough to sway him away from St Andrews so a move to Bolton or Blackburn may appear more likely.