O'Neill wants to bring Portsmouth's Crouch back to Aston Villa

Martin O'Neill wants to bring Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch back to Aston Villa.

The News of the World says with cash-strapped Pompey desperate to sell, O’Neill hopes to tempt Crouch back from the south coast.

The departure of Harry Redknapp from Portsmouth, allied to their early European exit, is already making Crouch a wanted man six months after his arrival at Fratton Park.

The England striker rejected a host of Premier League clubs last summer to join Pompey, including Villa and Spurs.