Furious Coventry City have reported Aston Villa to the Football Association for an alleged illegal approach for George Boateng.

The Birmingham Post reported today that Boateng was ‘unsettled’ at Coventry and that Villa wanted to buy him for £4 million.

Coventry responded immediately that the only reason Boateng might feel unsettled was because of Villa’s backdoor methods. City claim Villa even used former Sky Blues player Dion Dublin, who left for Villa amid acrimonious scenes in October, to approach Boateng.

Bryan Richardson, Coventry’s chairman, said:

"I have reported Aston Villa to the FA for making an illegal approach. But not just because of what is in the newspaper today.

"This has been going on since the night of our match at Villa Park two weeks ago. I know that Villa’s chairman Doug Ellis had a conversation with Boateng’s agent that very night and George told our manager Gordon Strachan that Dion had been in touch saying that Villa wanted him to play for them."

And the chairman added:

"George Boateng is not leaving this club. We have ten important matches to the end of the season and he has two and a half years left on his contract. He is a very valuable member of our squad."

Gordon Strachan, Coventry’s manager said:

"A month ago I had a very happy player, now I have a very confused young man. But he will play for us against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday."