Aston Villa Football Club have reportedly made an offer for Sylvain Distin.

Martin O’Neill is eager to sign a top-class defender before the transfer deadline, as he looks to replace Martin Laursen who retired at the end of last season.

Sky Sports claim the Villa manager has tabled an offer for French centre-half Distin, who is in the final year of his contract at Portsmouth.

The Fratton Park club are keen to keep hold of the 31-year-old, but it remains to be seen if the offer from the Midlands club will prove too tempting to resist.