ASTON Villa have told Wanderers they will have to pay cash to land Stephen Warnock in the January transfer window.

The full-back, whose loan expires in just over a fortnight, is facing a demoralising return to the Midlands club over the festive break to await news of his future.

Villa are understood to want £2million for the 30-year-old defender, who has been one of the most consistent members of the squad since his arrival back in September.

But even if an agreement on the fee is made between the two clubs, it is unlikely that the Whites will sanction a move on the salary he currently earns at Villa Park, following an £8m move in August 2009.

Warnock was frozen out by Paul Lambert in the summer and forced to train with the youth team, prompting his move to the North West.

He had received assurances from Owen Coyle that a permanent move would be investigated but after the Glaswegian was sacked just three games later, Warnock has openly admitted he has been in the dark about his next move.

Dougie Freedman is yet to make his intentions clear on the former England international but set tongues wagging last weekend when he dropped him from his squad in favour of Marcos Alonso.

He had previously described the defender as a “winner” and spoke highly of his character soon after his arrival at the Reebok.

“I think Stephen has done really well,” he said. “He’s shown his experience and I think it was only two years ago he was in the World Cup squad, so that shows you he’s a quality player.”

But with a brief of reviving Wanderers’ flagging promotion hopes, which may now hang on the play-offs, the manager knows he will have to manage his limited finances carefully.

Wanderers could potentially extend Warnock’s loan, with permission from Villa and the Football League, and have him feature in their busy festive schedule. That seems unlikely, however, as Paul Lambert is eager to boost his own spending power in January and wants to sell some of the players he pushed to the margins such as Warnock and Alan Hutton.

Alonso’s selection last weekend would suggest Freedman is looking at his available options, and the young Spaniard fared reasonably well in what was his first start since scoring in a 2-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday in September.

Wanderers’ FA Cup third round opponents Sunderland are said to be monitoring Warnock’s situation and could be willing to offer cash.

Meanwhile, Norwegian winger Dawda Leigh has cooled talk of him heading to the Reebok on a free transfer.

"I have not heard anything concrete about Bolton,” said the 26-year-old former Valerenga star, who is currently without a club. “But I want to go to England, and it is there or Belgium that seems most appropriate now.”