Aston Villa last night remained interested parties in the footballing destination of Craig Bellamy as he approaches his D-day on Tyneside.
The controversial Newcastle United striker, who turned down a move to Birmingham City last season, is now known to be a target for four clubs, including Villa.
And with the Wales international due to report back for pre-season training next week with Newcastle, where he is known to be not wanted, an end to this latest Bellamy saga now appears in sight.
Celtic, where he played out the remainder of last season on loan following his much publicised falling-out with Newcastle boss Graeme Souness, are still contenders.
New Bhoys boss Gordon Strachan, who signed Bellamy for a year at Coventry, certainly has the selling skills, despite the fact his finances are stretched and that the player is keen to return to the Premiership.
Everton have also made their interest public, boss David Moyes having spoken to Bellamy over the weekend. And Blackburn Rovers, although the least wealthy of the contenders, have their big Welsh contingent to entice him.
But the fact that Villa have managed to keep most of their powder dry in this summer's transfer battle now gives them added financial clout in their bid to tie down the final two pieces in manager David O'Leary's jigsaw - Bellamy and Sylvain Distin.
Villa, whose players return to training today, have so far spent less than £3 million in transfer fees to secure the services of Patrik Berger, Aaron Hughes, Kevin Phillips and Stuart Taylor.
It is certainly still within their budget to find the £11 million that, it has been suggested, would bring in Manchester City defender Distin and Bellamy.
One player O'Leary will be keeping a particular look-out for as the players reassemble today is French midfielder Mathieu Berson.
He had been expected to move to Espanyol this summer, but the breakdown of the deal with the Spanish side led to Berson's agent last week saying his player would report back to train with Villa this week. But reports in the French press yesterday intimated that the player himself may be not too keen.
