Portsmouth targeted the player earlier in the summer but were told by Villa boss Alex McLeish that Herd was in his plans for the forthcoming season.
However, Grayson is keen to add the player to his squad and will offer to pay his wages in full, something Pompey were unable to do.
The 22-year-old Australian midfielder has made six first-team appearances during his Villa career.
Restore Data
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |
| 1 | Leicester CityLeicester | 44 | 30 | 4 | 10 | 86 | 39 | 47 | 94 |
| 2 | Leeds UnitedLeeds | 44 | 27 | 9 | 8 | 80 | 37 | 43 | 90 |
| 3 | Ipswich TownIpswich | 43 | 26 | 11 | 6 | 85 | 53 | 32 | 89 |
| 4 | Southampton | 44 | 25 | 9 | 10 | 85 | 61 | 24 | 84 |
| 5 | West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom | 44 | 20 | 12 | 12 | 67 | 44 | 23 | 72 |
| 6 | Norwich CityNorwich | 44 | 21 | 9 | 14 | 77 | 61 | 16 | 72 |
| 7 | Hull City | 44 | 19 | 12 | 13 | 65 | 56 | 9 | 69 |
| 8 | Coventry CityCoventry | 43 | 17 | 12 | 14 | 68 | 55 | 13 | 63 |
| 9 | Middlesbrough | 44 | 18 | 9 | 17 | 64 | 60 | 4 | 63 |
| 10 | Preston North EndPreston | 44 | 18 | 9 | 17 | 56 | 61 | -5 | 63 |
| 11 | Cardiff CityCardiff | 44 | 19 | 5 | 20 | 50 | 61 | -11 | 62 |
| 12 | Bristol City | 44 | 16 | 11 | 17 | 51 | 47 | 4 | 59 |
| 13 | Sunderland | 44 | 16 | 8 | 20 | 52 | 51 | 1 | 56 |
| 14 | Swansea CitySwansea | 44 | 15 | 11 | 18 | 57 | 62 | -5 | 56 |
| 15 | Watford | 44 | 12 | 17 | 15 | 59 | 58 | 1 | 53 |
| 16 | Millwall | 44 | 14 | 11 | 19 | 43 | 55 | -12 | 53 |
| 17 | Stoke CityStoke | 44 | 13 | 11 | 20 | 44 | 60 | -16 | 50 |
| 18 | Queens Park RangersQPR | 44 | 13 | 11 | 20 | 41 | 57 | -16 | 50 |
| 19 | Blackburn RoversBlackburn | 44 | 13 | 10 | 21 | 58 | 74 | -16 | 49 |
| 20 | Plymouth ArgylePlymouth | 44 | 12 | 12 | 20 | 58 | 69 | -11 | 48 |
| 21 | Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds | 44 | 13 | 8 | 23 | 39 | 68 | -29 | 47 |
| 22 | Birmingham CityBirmingham | 44 | 12 | 10 | 22 | 48 | 64 | -16 | 46 |
| 23 | Huddersfield TownHuddersfield | 44 | 9 | 17 | 18 | 47 | 74 | -27 | 44 |
| R | Rotherham UnitedRotherham | 44 | 4 | 12 | 28 | 32 | 85 | -53 | 24 |
| > Championship Full Table | |||||||||
