Collymore deal wrecked by Milosevic

Savo Milosevic, the Aston Villa striker, has pulled out of a pounds 4.5m move to the Serie A Italian club Perugia and ruined the hopes of his manager, Brian Little, of signing Liverpool's Stan Collymore.

Little had dropped the broadest hint yesterday morning that selling Milosevic held the key to being able to finance a pounds 7m bid for Collymore. "The sale or non-sale of Savo will definitely determine which way I move next," he had said.

But now Milosevic has said he wants to remain at Villa Park which prompted a stunned Little to admit: "There have been situations where I have been asking about players. These things will now be put on the shelf.

"I haven't been quoted about saying that I have been after any particular player, but after what has happened anything in that direction will be pushed to the back of my mind."