Aston Villa hope to sign star next week after beating West Ham

A Villa source has told Football Insider that Villa are now in pole position to sign the 23-year-old for a fee of around £12million.

That is £3m than Forest had hoped to get for their in-demand academy product.

Cash has also generated strong interest from West Ham, Sheffield United and Fulham since the window opened.

But Villa are close to wrapping up a deal that would be a blow to the Hammers especially, as they have been trying to sign the right-sided defender since January.

As revealed by Football Insider, Cash is has made it clear he is keen to quit Forest this summer and join a top-flight club.

Cash has graduated from the academy ranks at the City Ground to make 141 senior appearances.

Nearly a third of those came in the recently-completed campaign in which he made 40 Championship starts.

Villa have moved for Cash after selling James Bree to Luton Town in a deal that was finalised yesterday.

Forest have accepted defeat in their bid to keep hold of Cash following their failure to secure promotion from last season’s Championship.

In other news, Aston Villa have climbed above Leeds United to be in pole position to sign lethal forward.