Aston Villa to cut their losses on Stephen Warnock and let him join West Ham on a free transfer Warnock will have talks with Sam Allardyce on Sunday and Villa are prepared to let the defender leave on a free transfer to get his £40,000 a week wages off the books. The former England international, 31, is one of the fringe players on big money that Lambert has been desperate to shift and Villa do not expect any hitches in the deal. Wolves and Leeds United have attempted to sign Warnock on loan but the prospect of remaining in the Premier League is likely to swing the move in Allardyce's favour. Lambert has been told any money raised from player sales will go into his transfer kitty and although Warnock's departure is set to be on a free transfer, it should give Villa's manager some leeway to bring in a loan signing.