The George Boateng transfer saga looks set to come to end today after Coventry City chairman Bryan Richardson agreed a fee with midlands rivals Aston Villa.

Coventry yesterday completed the record £4 million signing of Moroccan midfielder Mustapha Hadji from Deportivo de la Coruña, paving the way for the Dutchman’s departure.

Boateng will discuss personal terms with the Villa Park club today and Richardson believes the transfer could be complete by the end of the day.

He said:

"When Aston Villa approached George in March that really set the ball rolling but we had to do it our way.

"We have now agreed an undisclosed fee with Villa but we waited until we had secured Hadji. We wanted to make certain he was coming which has now happened.

"I would not be surprised if the Boateng deal was concluded today."

It has been clear since Villa approached the 23-year-old in March that he was keen to team-up with former Highfield Road colleague Dion Dublin in claret and blue and was unsettled towards the end of last season.

When the Birmingham club made their approach last season they were reportedly offering around £3 million, and although the agreed fee is undisclosed Richardson has said all along that £5 million is the minimum he would accept for the player.