Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is reportedly tracking Hamburg's Holland international midfielder Nigel de Jong.

His club Hamburg are keen to offload De Jong - their highest wage earner at around £40,000 a week - after a disappointing season in the Bundesliga which saw them miss out on a Champions League spot.

The 22-year-old joined Hamburg from Ajax for £700,000 18 months ago.

Hamburg sporting director Dietmar Beiersdorfer said: "We have heard rumours of interest from Villa but at the moment there is no news."