Aston Villa caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald is hoping the James Milner deal with Manchester City is completed in the next 24 hours.
Milner has undergone a medical as he edges close to making a move to Eastlands worth a reported £26m, with Stephen Ireland heading in the opposite direction as part of the switch.
And MacDonald told Sky Sports News: “Stephen is down with us, doing the medical, finalising arrangements, and James is the opposite up there (in Manchester).
“Hopefully by the end of today he will have signed in time for us to be registered to play in the return leg (of the Europa League qualifier with Rapid Vienna) next week.”