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Tim Sherwood will table a £5.5million bid for Tom Huddlestone after going to Hull and back again.

Aston Villa boss Sherwood has targeted the England midfielder following Jake Livermore’s drugs shame.

Sherwood had planned a summer swoop for Livermore - but he was forced to ditch his interest when the former Tottenham ace tested positive for cocaine after City’s 2-0 win at Crystal Palace two months ago.

Livermore was instantly suspended by his club and the FA for the rest of the season, and is now facing a two-year ban from playing.

And Sherwood’s hopes of landing loan star Tom Cleverley on a permanent deal were wrecked when the Manchester United midfielder snubbed Villa in favour of a move to Everton.

(Image: Action)

That has seen Sherwood turn his sights on Livermore’s Tigers team-mate Huddlestone who looks certain to be part of the big-name exodus from the KC Stadium following Hull’s relegation to the Championship.

A source confirmed: “Sherwood is a big fan of Tom, and the pair have strong ties after working closely with one another during their time together at Spurs.

“Tim coached Tom at White Hart Lane when he was fighting his way back to fitness with the reserves following a bad injury, and rates him as one of the best creative midfield players in the country.

“He believes he is the manager who can bring out the best in him, and would relish the opportunity to throw him a Premier League lifeline.”

(Image: Neville Williams)

Huddlestone has also been linked with a switch to ambitious Bournemouth, but the ex-Derby schemer would prefer a reunion with Sherwood to hooking up with the surprise top flight new-boys.

Nottingham-born Huddlestone, who cost the Tigers £5.25million when he joined from Spurs two years ago, still has 12 months left on contract with the Humberside outfit

But he is expected to be on the move along with the likes of Nikica Jelavic, Abel Hernandez, Dame N'Doye, James Chester and Andy Robertson as Hull count the cost of dropping out of England’s elite.

Done deals - Summer 2015: