Villa have rejected an opening £15m bid for Stewart Downing from Liverpool.

The Anfield club made their long-expected first move for the England midfielder yesterday and were met with an immediate rejection from a Villa camp determined to hold out for a fee in excess of £20m.

But the development confirms new manager Alex McLeish’s worst fears as he prepares to gather his squad for pre-season training on Friday knowing he faces a major rebuild.

McLeish already knows he has to win over a sceptical new public, unhappy about his arrival fresh from relegation with the club’s arch rivals Birmingham City.

His task was already made more difficult by the sale of Ashley Young to Manchester United for £16m before he had even got his feet under the table.

The prospect of losing Downing, which has gathered momentum now that Liverpool have firmed up weeks of speculation about their interest in the wide man, makes McLeish’s task even more arduous.

Downing was Villa’s Player of the Season during the Gerard Houllier reign but the player’s disillusionment with what went on at Villa Park last season has soured his relationship with the club.

News of Liverpool’s move was leaked from the Merseyside end in a replay of the Anfield club’s ultimately-doomed attempt to sign Gareth Barry.

That will irritate Villa still further who will view the leak as a deliberate attempt by Liverpool to further unsettle a player who has indicated he will not be renewing a contract which still has two years to run at Villa Park.

If Villa continue to stubbornly defy Liverpool, Downing is expected to make his discontent formal by handing in a written transfer request.