Aston Villa have received encouragement in their pursuit of Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder.

The Daily Mail says Villa want to snatch Real Madrid's £16m-rated Dutch playmaker Sneijder.

Sneijder's future at the Bernabeu is uncertain following Real's £220million summer spending spree and Inter Milan had hoped to take the 25-year-old on loan with a further option to buy outright.

But the Italians' interest has cooled and Villa boss Martin O'Neill could be ready to step in.