Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has been offered River Plate star Radamel Falcao.

The Birmingham Mail says Falcao appeared on the verge of signing for Benfica last week but then reports suggested that Liverpool had lodged an offer to sign the 23-year-old.

But agents working on his behalf have contacted Villa within the last few days to try to set up a deal.

Villa were heavily linked in the Argentine press with a move for the player referred to by his nickname 'El Tigre' 18 months ago but nothing materialised.