Aston Villa intend to test their relationship with Birmingham City by making a bid for goalkeeper Ben Foster.
A source close to Villa Park confirmed that new manager Alex McLeish was a firm admirer of the stopper, whom he lured from Manchester United when in charge of bitter rivals Blues.
"It is well known that Alex McLeish rates Ben very highly and he will be looking to fill the goalkeeping void at Villa," the source told the Sunday Mercury.
"Ben is a top-class keeper who had an excellent season at Birmingham. He should be playing in the Premier League week in week out."
