Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is launching a bid for Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson.

The Mirror says O'Neill is willing to pay £3.5 million for the England U21 hero, who refuses to be understudy to Reds No1 Pepe Reina next season.

Villa are in the market for a keeper to challenge Thomas Sorensen and have also looked at Jussi Jaaskelainen at Bolton and Celtic's Polish star Artur Boruc, but Carson ticks all of the boxes.