Aston Villa are eyeing Feyenoord defender Royston Drenthe.

Drenthe is currently part of his country's squad in the European Under-21 Championship and has been watched on several occasions by Villa's chief scout Ian Storey-Moore.

O'Neill needs competition at left-back following the departure of Jlloyd Samuel to Bolton and 20-year-old Drenthe, who began his career as a left winger, could fit the bill.

That could put Drenthe in direct competition with his fellow countryman Wilfred Bouma who made the role his own during the second half of last season.