Real Madrid are tracking Aston Villa defender Carlos Cuellar.

The Mirror says the uncapped star has recently been told by Spanish scouts that he is being watched closely by the national team.

Cuellar is now aware he is on Spain coach Vicente del Bosque's radar ahead of the World Cup next year.

And Madrid-born Cuellar, who used to play for Osasuna, also has admirers at Spanish giants Real.

The Bernabeu club are looking for a new defender in January after their Brazilian-born Portuguese stopper Pepe, 26, got badly injured.