Villa set to step up chase for 2m Liverpool target Distin

Aston Villa are ready to compete with Liverpool for Portsmouth defender Sylvain Distin. Villa have cooled on Arsenal target Thomas Vermaelen and consider Anderlecht's Hungary defender Roland Juhasz as not quite good enough for their requirements. Instead they have targeted Frenchman Distin, 31, the subject of a £2million approach from Liverpool last week. Distin is keen on Anfield but Villa hope to offer the prospect of more regular first-team football.