Gregory in 'forget football' message to Nilis

The Aston Villa manager, John Gregory, has told the club's double leg fracture victim Luc Nilis to "forget about playing football for a considerable amount of time".

The Aston Villa manager, John Gregory, has told the club's double leg fracture victim Luc Nilis to "forget about playing football for a considerable amount of time".

Nilis, who received the injury in a challenge with the Ipswich Town goalkeeper, Richard Wright, last Saturday, has already had three operations and Gregory said that further surgery is likely in the next month.

"I would have thought that it is going to be three months before he can put any weight on the leg," Gregory said. "He is in safe hands in Ipswich and they have looked after him exceptionally well. All we are worried about at the moment is just making sure that he is comfortable and pain free.

"The people at the hospital in Ipswich are very reluctant to even let him get into an ambulance to bring him back to Birmingham just in case he has any problems on the journey."

Savio, Real Madrid's frustrated Brazilian winger, said yesterday that he wanted a definitive answer on his proposed transfer to Chelsea by the end of the day after confirming that the two clubs were in negotiations.

Savio revealed earlier this year that Real had declined to renegotiate his contract, which still has three years to run. In the circumstances, he would be expected to receive a considerably higher salary at the London club.

"I can't stand this situation any longer," Savio said. "Everything has to be sorted out today one way or another. I've never said that I want to leave Real Madrid, only that I've had a very good offer and I wanted the situation resolved.

"It's been three or four weeks now. Real Madrid keep saying they want to keep me but I know that they are negotiating. If there is no deal by today then I'll happily stay here. I have a contract here and I'll play in the team tomorrow."

Chelsea have offered around £8.85m for the Brazilian international, according to Spanish media reports.

Real are believed to be holding out for £10.6m for a player who has repeatedly earned the backing of the Real Madrid coach, Vicente del Bosque, and has started both games this season.

That support was reiterated by Del Bosque yesterday when he said: "He's an important player for Real Madrid and he is part of my plans."