Villa join list of Mo admirers

Aston Villa have joined Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle in the hunt for Wigan's soon-to-be-out-of-contract midfielder Mohamed Diame.

Villa chief scout Glenn Roader was spotted at the Emirates Stadium last Monday to see Wigan's heroic win over Arsenal - after which it was thought he was watching Latics forward Victor Moses. Moses is ready to move on in the summer and will refuse Wigan's offer of a new deal, but Diame appears even more likely to go as he will be available on a free. The Senegal international is back in the fold and playing well again and after recovering from a recent injury. The 24-year-old is also attracting interest from Spain, where he used to play for Rayo Vallecano, with Real Betis thought to be keen to tempt him back to La Liga. Villa, who are fighting Wigan, Bolton and QPR in the relegation scrap, have joined Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle in the race to land the player whose contract talks are on hold until the end of the season.