The deal that will take Hughes from Birmingham to London is expected to be worth £1million to Villa, two years after they signed him from Newcastle United.

If the formalities are completed quickly enough then the 27-year-old could sign on at Fulham next week.

The international skipper will become the first member of the squad to join former manager Lawrie Sanchez at Craven Cottage.

And he isn't likely to be the last.

Sanchez has been handed a £10million transfer kitty and is preparing to spend a large amount of that on Northern Ireland players.

As revealed in the Ireland's Saturday Night two weeks ago, Sanchez is tracking no fewer than FIVE of the men that helped take the country to the top of their Euro 2008 qualifying group while he was in charge.

He is hot on the trail of record goalscorer David Healy and a deal is expected to be done when the transfer embargo placed on Leeds United - which covers moves both in and out of the club - is lifted, which will happen in July.

Chris Baird has also been the subject of interest from Sanchez.

He has tabled a offer for the Southampton player, which was rejected and that prompted Baird to hand in a transfer request.

The defender is currently on holiday and there has been no further movement for the last week.

Sanchez would also like to take Steve Davis and Chris Brunt to the Cottage. He may be able to tempt Davis to follow Hughes out of Villa Park, but will face more of a fight in signing Brunt, who is ready to enter negotiations on a new contract with Sheffield Wednesday.