Scott Sinclair will reportedly join Aston Villa permanently this summer after their Premier League status was assured last weekend.
The on-loan winger has struggled to break into the team in recent weeks, but had an initial impact after joining from Manchester City in January.
The Telegraph reports that Villa and City agreed a £2.5m deal that would be guaranteed to go through should the Midlands club survive.
However, manager Tim Sherwood seemed less than convinced that a deal was going to happen.
He told reporters: "I think there's a discussion to be had at the end of the season. I'm not sure if it is cast in stone and I haven't got confirmation of that.
"Is there a decision to make on him? Yeah. The injuries interrupted him but we have changed the style and the way we play a little bit. He's been training, still a good lad, a good player. He hasn't become a bad player or anything like that."
The 26-year-old has scored three times in 11 games since January.
Charlie Bennett
