Villa snap up Routledge and seek two more from Spurs recruits

Aston Villa are attempting to sign three players from Tottenham Hotspur before the transfer window closes at midnight tonight. Wayne Routledge completed his transfer, for around £2m, on an 18-month deal yesterday while bids are being prepared for Pascal Chimbonda for £6m and Kevin-Prince Boateng (£3.5m) after Bolton last night paid Villa £5m for their defender Gary Cahill.

It is unlikely Villa will land all three targets, though they are confident Chimbonda, who wants to leave, can be signed, especially after Spurs completed the purchase of Rangers' right-back Alan Hutton for a fee of £8m, which could rise to £10m, a record for a Scottish player. Spurs will be relieved finally to have sold Routledge, who has failed to settle since arriving from Crystal Palace in July 2005 for an initial £1.25m.

Villa have also completed the £2m purchase of the American goalkeeper Brad Guzan from Chivas making it possible Thomas Sorensen will leave today.

The most tortuous deal of the transfer window should be settled today with Middlesbrough's appeal for a work permit for Afonso Alves being heard in London. A £12m fee to sign the Brazilian striker from the Dutch club Heerenveen has been agreed, but he is not automatically eligible to play in England as he does not have sufficient international appearances.