DEAL WILL SOON BE DUNNE & DUSTED.

Byline: PAUL O'HEHIR

RICHARD Dunne's move to Aston Villa should be rubberstamped in the next 48 hours. Transfer talks are at an advanced stage with Martin O'Neill desperate to bolster his squad.

A fee of pounds 6 million has been agreed between the two clubs and the Ireland defender is discussing personal terms with the Birmingham club.

Should the move go through without any hitches, Dunne could also be handed the Villa Park armband as a sweetener.

Last night, O'Neill said: "I cannot comment on any individual. But we are still looking to bolster the squad.

"It goes without saying that defensively we are still looking for a Martin Laursen-type player and it is not easy in this day and age.

"I hope that we will be able to get in a new player before the deadline but until you get the players actually signed it would be difficult to comment.

"But we know that we have about a week to get the squad together."

Dunne's future at Manchester City was thrown into doubt following the arrivals of both Joleon Lescott and Kolo Toure from Arsenal.

And City boss Mark Hughes is expected to hand Toure Dunne's armband when he leaves the club this week.

Yesterday, Hughes claimed that Dunne could still have a City future - although he admitted his phone would be hopping with enquires.

He said: "There is bound to be speculation but what we are trying to do is make the squad stronger.

"No doubt we will get calls in relation to Richard or other centre-backs, because people will surmise that now Joleon is here others may leave.

"That is not necessarily the case."

CAPTION(S):

MOVE Richard Dunne