Aston Villa are preparing to fight off a £7.5million bid from Liverpool to make Fabian Delph the successor to Steven Gerrard.

Boss Brendan Rodgers had accepted that Villa's determination not to sell their midfield driving force in January would mean he'd have to wait until the summer.

But Villa chiefs believe Gerrard's decision to move to America has changed the picture and a bid could now come in the next two weeks.

Liverpool see the tough-tackling and highly mobile 25-year-old, who has forced his way into Roy Hodgson's England team, as a natural replacement for Gerrard.

While their original plan was to get him in the summer for free when his current Villa contract runs out, they now want remove any risk of missing out by getting the deal done.

Spurs are also keen to land the former Leeds star.

Signing Delph this month would make him available for Liverpool's Europa League tie against Besiktas.

Source: Daily Mirror