ALAN Thompson will decide in the next 48 hours whether his football future lies with Aston Villa or Leeds United.

Wanderers have cleared the way for their wantaway midfield ace to speak to the two Premiership clubs...and anyone else wanting his services.

Thompson and his agent Paul Stretford are understood to have had talks with Villa chairman Doug Ellis and secretary Steve Stride yesterday and Leeds are expected to follow suit.

It will then be left to the player himself to decide where he wants to ply his trade.

But Wanderers insisted today that no fee has been agreed with any club. They are confident, however, that they can negotiate a deal close to their £5 million asking price.

"We're not going to stand in Alan's way," Wanderers chairman Gordon Hargreaves said.

"We have given permission for him and his agent to speak to Villa. From that we naturally assume he will wish to speak to other interested parties.

"There are two other clubs in the frame. But, if they (Thompson and his agent) strike a deal with Villa and don't want to go elsewhere, we will deal with Villa."

Leeds are certainly one club prepared to take Villa the full distance, the other is likely to be Everton - one of the first clubs to declare an interest - although Leicester City are known to be keeping a watching brief.

Villa boss John Gregory, who has made no secret of his determination to make the 24-year-old Geordie his first signing, said: "I am very confident we can get Alan.

"I love left-footed players and despite Alan Wright's presence on that flank, I see Alan fitting into our system perfectly."

Wanderers look certain to bank £3 million from the Thompson transfer. A £4.25 million deal will net Newcastle a windfall as a result of the 25 per cent sell-on clause negotiated when Thompson came to Bolton from St James' Park in a £250,000 switch in the summer of 93.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.