BIRMINGHAM, England Aston Villa have agreed a fee with Spanish club Racing Santander for the signing of defender Olof Mellberg, the English Premier League club said on Wednesday.

Media reports suggest Villa will have to pay around 5 million pounds ($7.05 million) for the 23-year-old Sweden international center back.

The player's representatives were due in Birmingham for talks on Wednesday with a view to concluding the deal.

Villa Manager John Gregory told the club's official website: "We've agreed a fee with Racing Santander and we're now talking to his people to push the deal through."

Gregory has been keen to bring in Mellberg to replace England international Gareth Southgate, who signed for Middlesbrough last week.