Aston Villa Football Club hope to get their hands on Sylvain Distin for just £2.5million.

The French defender has just one year left on his contract at Portsmouth, who are said to be willing to cash in on him to offload his £60,000-per-week salary.

Martin O’Neill is looking for a new defender following the retirement of Martin Laursen, and he hopes he can land Distin, 31, for a knockdown price.