Aston Villa are interested in Manchester City firebrand Emmanuel Adebayor.

The Manchester Evening News says Adebayor has Aston Villa now joining Juventus in expressing an interest.

A City insider said: "We do have interest in players who could strengthen our squad, but we'll not be held to ransom and we certainly won't be paying any kind of so-called City premium.

"The squad has been strengthened substantially over the last two years and now it is a case of managing that squad.

"We are exactly where we would hope to be in the Premier League at this state of our development.

"The squad has improved over two years in the period it would take other clubs 10 years.

"We are currently attempting to manage the squad base down, but it is highly unlikely there will be any loan deals."