Gregory said last week that any move for Carbone was ``finally dead'' with the Italian set to see out his
     contract at Hillsborough and then return home next summer. 

     Now the Villa chief has received an indication via Carbone's advisors that the player would consider a loan
     spell until the end of the season. 

     That would appeal to Gregory who is looking for a player of Carbone's flair to provide a creative spark that
     has been missing at Villa this season. 

     Carbone has already agreed to drop his initial wage demands - reported to be £33,000 a week. 

     But it would aid Gregory's cause if he is able to finally rid himself of the services of Collymore and replace
     him on the wage bill with Carbone who still would command in excess of £20,000 a week. 

     Fulham are interested in a pay-as-you-play deal for Collymore who has just returned to Villa after a
     three-month loan spell at Craven Cottage. 

     But for that to happen Gregory knows he will have to persuade chairman Doug Ellis to take a huge loss on
     the player he paid a club record £7million for in 1997. 

     Meanwhile, the out of favour Villa duo of midfielder Mark Draper and goalkeeper Michael Oakes are being
     targeted by Wolves manager Colin Lee who watched them in reserve team action last week. 

     Draper was initially valued at £3.5million by Gregory but he would now accept considerably less for a player
     signed for £4million by his predecessor Brian Little from Leicester four years ago. 

     Oakes, a recent £500,000 target for Bristol City, was Mark Bosnich's deputy last season but has now slipped
     down the pecking order following the arrival of David James and Peter Enckelman. 

     He would be entitled to leave the club on a free transfer next summer under the Bosman Ruling. 

     Oakes said: ``I'm just taking every day as it comes. I'm not in any rush to do anything. I'm not in any rush to
     go anywhere at the moment. I don't know what is around the corner.'' 
Carling Net