Aston Villa are interested in free agent Kevin Pezzoni.

The German defender is off contract from FC Koln and eyeing a move to England.

Express says Villa and Middlesbrough are keen on 23 year-old defender, who is angry with FC Koln management.

Pezzoni has been forced to quit the German Second Division club after threats from fans and feels he didn't receive enough protection from Koln management.

He told Die Welt: "Who knows if after the next bad game these guys would have suddenly appeared in my apartment rather than just outside it.

"A club is supposed to protect its players and supporters, but this was not the case."