Nigel Reo-Coker, out of contract in the summer, has caught the eye of a number of clubs across Europe after impressing under Gerard Houllier having fallen fowl of the previous regime. The 26-year-old has had arguably his best season at the club and won over a number of his critics with energetic, tough-tackling displays. Despite being handed the captaincy early in the season when fellow midfielder Stiliyan Petrov was injured, Reo-Coker is yet to sign a new deal at the club, though talks are set to open in the coming weeks, providing Villa secure survival, an all but complete task. He is in the same boat as the likes of Brad Friedel and Luke Young in waiting to see what offer the club puts on the table. Reo-Coker is thought to be asking for a considerable mark up in his wages, an area in which chairman Randy Lerner is keen to continue to reduce costs, which could mean that the former England Under-21 captain will leave on a free at the end of the season. This possibility has reportedly drawn the attention of the likes of Galatasaray, who have also been credited with an interest in Petrov, and Serie A’s high flying Napoli, with the Birmingham Mail claiming both clubs had scouts at the West Ham game.
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