Gerard Houllier has reportedly returned with an improved offer of £3.5m for Blackpool midfielder after an earlier offer was rebuffed by the Seasiders. Villa are thought to be in a battle with rivals Birmingham to sign the Scotsman but Holloway will be loathed to losing his talismanic skipper. The club had bid £2.5m for the 25-year-old and Houllier seems keen to secure his signature after an interest in Lyon midfielder Jean Makoun has cooled after the two clubs valuations of the player were not equal with the French side waiting for £7m for the Cameroon international. To douse the fire further, Lyon have recently recalled Makoun to the starting line-up with the player stating that although he was aware of interest from Villa and not ruling out a move, he was just happy to be playing again.
