Aston Villa eye Sneijder move

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill has shown an interest in signing Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder.

O’Neill believes that he can pick up the 25-year-old as his future in Madrid was tossed into doubt when Internazionale were offered a €4 million (£3.4m) loan move for the Dutch international. Sneijder’s move to Milan never amounted to anything as Inter were reluctant to pay a fee to take a player on loan, even tough the move could have become permanent as the deal included a clause that could see the playmaker stay in Milan for an additional €18 million (£15.4m).

Aston Villa’s interest in the midfielder has grown out of the building speculation that Real Madrid are looking offload Sneijder this summer. Real now have a surplus of stars in their squad with their recent big-money signings of Kaká, Xabi Alonso, Ronaldo and Benzema. Not only is Sneijder expected to leave the Santiago Bernabéu but several of the team’s Dutch players could be leaving to club this summer. Klass Jan Huntelaar has already left Real, securing a move to AC Milan.

O’Neill is keen on signing Sneijder and believes that the midfielder could add a spark to Aston Villa’s attack. O’Neil said, “I think that the more creativity you have in your side the better chance you will have. These are particularly special players who are not [generally] available. If there were players like Sneijder, who have great talent and might be surplus to requirements at a club that is buying [new players], then I think you should be interested, even if that interest is not reciprocated. Because how else are you going to try and improve your team?”

Supplementing the attack is not O’Neill’s priority, he seeks first to strengthen Villa’s back line. After selling six foot six inch defender Zat Knight to Bolton Wanderers, the Villains only have two experienced centre-backs in Curtis Davies and Carlos Cuéllar.

O’Neill is hoping to sign Newcastle United full-back Habib Beye and Portsmouth’s Sylvain Distin to fortify his defence.

Aston Villa have already signed Fabian Delph from Leeds and Steward Downing from Middlesbrough. Downing will be unavailable until the end of the year due to an ankle injury.

O’Neill is looking to add Sneijder to the ranks at Villa in hopes that the Dutchman will help to replace Gareth Barry, who has moved to Manchester City on a £12 million fee.

Sneijder has made 52 appearances for Real Madrid scoring eleven goals, since joining from Ajax Amsterdam in 2007 for £23 million. He is set to feature in the Netherlands’ squad for their friendly with England on August 12th.