Aston Villa 'win' £18m transfer tussle after hijacking Everton and Ipswich bids

Hull City star Jaden Philogene is expected to join Aston Villa next week, according to a report.

Neil Moxley, a Chief Sports Writer for the The Daily Mirror says Villa have won the race to sign Philogene after activating the clause. Unai Emery has given the green light on the transfer after the club had three days to decide whether to match the offers Ipswich Town and Everton made.

Ipswich and Everton made offers of £18m, but Villa will get Philogene for a discounted fee because of the sell-on-clause in the deal. Personal terms were agreed last summer when the England under-21 international departed in the event that he would make a return just a year later.

The Mirror claims that Emery closely reviewed Philogene's performances for Hull last season and gave his backing for Villa to bring him back. Philogene got 12 goals and six assists in 32 games for Hull last season as they finished seventh in the EFL Championship.

He is currently out in Turkey for Hull's pre-season training camp, but isn't training with their main group. Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu said Philogene left their camp earlier today to undergo a medical with Villa. Philogene is expected to be at the Bodymoor Heath training centre next week where he will compete his move.

His arrival would represent the 10th signing of the summer. Cameron Archer has returned from Sheffield United, and shortly after him Ethan Amundsen-Day followed. Lewis Dobbin joined from Everton with Tim Iroegbunam going in the opposite direction.

Villa's biggest bit of business this summer was the £37.5m signing of Ian Maatsen from Chelsea, whilst they also brought in Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea from Juventus. Omar Khedr joined for an undisclosed fee from ZED, whilst Ross Barkley returned from Luton Town for £5M and just last week, Max Jenner joined on a free transfer from Midlands rivals West Brom.