LONDON, England (CMC) — Struggling English Premier League outft Aston Villa will have to fork out nearly £2 million if they want to seal Jamaican striker Omar Cummings on a permanent deal.

The West Midlands side, sitting one point above the relegation zone, took the 28-year-old Cummings on an unlimited trial last week in an attempt to find the goals they desperately need to rescue their flagging campaign.

Cummings’ MLS club Colorado Rapids are said to be open to a loan arrangement until the season restarts in March but are not keen to let the player leave on a permanent move for less than their £1.94-million valuation.

“That is not over the top for a guy who is 28, at the prime of his career and who has been outstanding for us for the last two seasons,” one of the leading football websites Goal.com UK, quoted a Rapids source as saying.

Cummings, who has been capped 21 times by the Reggae Boyz, has been an asset for the Rapids in recent seasons and his 14 goals in the just-concluded campaign helped fire the south-western United States club to their first MLS title.

Only last year, they rejected a £320,000 offer from top Mexican club Necaxa for Cummings.

Villa manager Gerard Houllier is said to be keen on the striker, especially with the club struggling for frontmen.

“He is quick and can also play on the wing… we have not many options up front at this time.”

Villa, normally a top-10 side, have endured a wretched season and have managed just 20 goals in 19 matches.