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Aston Villa will have to stump up £12m if they want to sign winger Robert Snodgrass on a permanent deal this summer, it’s been claimed .

Snodgrass signed on loan for Villa from Premier League West Ham United last summer after the Scot was frozen out under former manager Slaven Bilic.

Comments from owner David Sullivan understandably didn’t go down well with Snodgrass either, when Sullivan claimed that his children had pleaded with him not to sign the winger from Hull City in the first place.

Compatriot David Moyes was understood to have been interested in bringing Snodgrass back to the London Stadium in January, but there was no such clause in his deal at Villa and he has remained here for the entire campaign.

He’s shone under Steve Bruce, too; Snodgrass has plundered eight goals and contributed 13 assists to date, including dramatic winners at play-off rivals Sheffield United and Middlesbrough.

Bruce has managed to get the best out of Snodgrass, a player he knows well having worked with him at Hull City.

He’s hinted previously that he’d be open to a permanent move to Villa Park this summer having fitted in well with the claret and blue squad, though at £12m it’s likely that Villa will need to be a top flight team themselves next season if they’re to secure Snodgrass’ services on a long-term deal.

Villa are four points behind second placed Cardiff with three matches to play, though the Bluebirds have a game in hand.

Decisions will also need to be made and deals potentially pursued for Sam Johnstone and Lewis Grabban, while Axel Tuanzebe and Josh Onomah will return to their parent clubs.

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How the fans reacted

Aston Villa's prospects of finishing in the Championship top two just got a hell of a lot bleaker after Cardiff City's late, late show at Norwich City.

The Bluebirds looked to be heading for a point at Carrow Road as the match ticked into the closing stages.

But substitute Kenneth Zohore broke the deadlock on 86 minutes before Junior Hoilett added a second goal in stoppage time.

The 2-0 victory has kickstarted Cardiff's creaking promotion push after defeats to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa.

They are now four points about Villa with a game in hand as the race for second intensifies, while Fulham are in action at home to Brentford in the Saturday teatime kick off.

It is a crushing blow to Steve Bruce's men who seemed to have re-energised their own bid for automatic promotion with 1-0 wins over Cardiff and Leeds United.

Here's what Villa fans on social media made of the latest twist:

Katie Jayne: Been saying for weeks all we can do is focus on the game ahead and win. We can’t control what happens around us. Yes we had a blip and we’ve paid for it, but there is NOTHING stopping us going up still via the play offs. The confident Aston Villa just needs to turn up! #AVFC

Kevin Hughes: Thought Norwich were going to do us a favour for a while. Its clear now, if it wasn't before, we are going to have to go up through the play off lottery. #AVFC

Mark Smith: As if people slating Norwich for not upping their game v Cardiff. I think you need to look a little closer to home. We only have ourselves to blame. That run after beating wolves was our downfall #playoffs #AVFC #UTV

DM: Those defeats against QPR, Bolton and Norwich hurt a lot more now. They are what’s cost us autos #AVFC

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John Kelly: Fair play to Cardiff .... they really do want automatic promotion... we went to Norwich and played like a bag of **** .... Cardiff go and do the job #avfc

David Nash: Cardiff beating a team we lost 3-1 to last week. Sadly, we are masters of our own destiny. #AVFC

Aston Villa Updates: Fair play Cardiff! They’ve finished our Automatic place off hate Warnock but fair play to them .. we bottled it ages ago!! #avfc

Callum: Only Cardiff could play awful all game then score a 90th min winner #avfc

Spencer Waller: f*** off Cardiff #avfc

Mickey #avfc: Well that's it then any hope of top 2 is over now , mind you we shouldn't have allowed it to get to the stage where we needed to rely on others but it is what it is #avfc

GTHEB: Whatever happens now, those games after Wolves ****** us up big time. Whatever happens it’s our own fault for not being 2nd

Stewart Chinn-Strong: Norwich, with their average footballers who only turn up against Aston Villa and pedestrianised city centre. #AVFC