Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is determined to land Tottenham winger David Bentley.

The News of the World says as endured a torrid time since his £15million move from Blackburn last year.

And his miserable season continued with a missed penalty in Spurs' Carling Cup final shootout defeat to Manchester United last weekend.

Fans jeered when his name was announced before the midweek victory over Middlesbrough as boss Harry Redknapp kept him on the bench.

The ex-Arsenal man was left out of the starting line-up again yesterday and accepts he no longer has a future at White Hart Lane. Bentley would relish a move to Villa, especially with the Midlanders looking good for a Champions League place next term.

Redknapp would be happy to recoup half of the fee Spurs splashed out to bring Bentley to London. That suits Villa boss O'Neill as he knows his squad needs more depth to compete at the highest level.