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Helenius makes plea for Villa move

Nicklas Helenius is eager to join Aston Villa © Getty Images

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Nicklas Helenius has urged current club Aalborg BK not to stand in his way of a move to Aston Villa by holding out for a bigger transfer fee.

Villa confirmed on Tuesday that they are in negotiations with Aalborg to sign the striker and are hopeful of completing a deal for the 22-year-old over the coming days.

However, the Danish side's new sports director, Allan Gaarde, has since revealed that the two parties have yet to reach a compromise on a fee, although he expects talks to near a conclusion soon.

"We had a long debate, but we've not quite agreed," Gaarde told Nordjskye. "However, we are close, so we have given Nicklas permission to travel to Birmingham at the weekend and look at the situation.''

On hearing the news, Helenius expressed hope that his club would do their best to reach an agreement with Villa.

"I hope AaB will show enough cooperation and not demand too much money for me," he said. "The market is not ready for big transfers at the moment. I have already secured the club a lot of money through my goals, and I am on my first professional contract, so I am not making an awful lot of money."

Helenius also spoke of his desire to join a club that has a policy of giving younger players an opportunity to make a name for themselves.

"Aston Villa is a very exciting club known to use young players,'' he said. "I therefore think the club will be taking me to England and letting me play. I do not want to come to England to sit on the bench.''

Helenius could become Villa's second signing this summer following the capture of Aleksander Tonev from Lech Poznan.

Manager Paul Lambert is also believed to be interested in luring Nordsjaelland defender Jores Okore to Villa Park.

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