Aston Villa Football Club

• Nickname:The Villains
• Founded:1874
• Manager:Paul Lambert

• Ground:Villa Park
• Capacity:42584

O'Neill dismisses Defoe link

30 Dec 2008 - 07:44:41

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Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has denied rumours suggesting that his club have made a bid to sign England striker Jermain Defoe from Portsmouth.

O'Neill is thought to be keen to add a new forward to his squad in the January transfer window, with Defoe and Spurs' Darren Bent the reported top targets for the Midlands club.

However, O'Neill said: "We have not enquired about any player at the moment, so this idea we have bid zillions for some particular player is simply untrue.

"Obviously we are looking to improve the squad. The team has done phenomenally well, but they have been on the go competitively since the middle of July.

"If we are trying to make progress in the Premier League, the FA Cup or the UEFA Cup, then obviously we have got to have a look at players.

"But this idea that we are going to put bids in left, right and centre is nonsense."