Aston Villa deny Upson bid

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Aston Villa have denied tabling a bid for West Ham and England defender Matthew Upson.

It had been suggested that Villa had submitted an £11m offer for the 29-year-old, who has forced himself back into contention for a place in the England side following an impressive run of form for the Hammers.

A statement on Villa's website, however, denied that the club had been in touch with West Ham about signing the defender, who used to play for Villa's neighbours Birmingham.

Manager Martin O'Neill insisted there was "not an ounce of truth" in suggestions that Villa had attempted to buy Upson.