Source: Telegraph
Aston Villa deny suggestions that Martin O'Neill has been scouting Tuncay Sanli
The striker has been linked with a move to Villa Park, in what could be a part-exchange deal featuring Marlon Harewood, and although Villa have more pressing positions to fill in the transfer window, they have not ruled out their interest in the 27-year-old.
However, given the fact that the £7m Turkish international did not play in the game, it is more likely that O'Neill was at the Riverside to watch David Wheater.
The Middlesbrough defender could become a key target as the club continue to look for a direct replacement for Martin Laursen in the centre of defence, especially if their attempts to sign Sylvain Distin come to nothing.
For while Villa's interest in the Portsmouth defender remains undimmed, the club have come to the conclusion that they must wait and see how Manchester City's move for Joleon Lescott pans out.
Should talks break down with Everton, City are expected to turn towards their former captain Distin (West Ham's Matthew Upson being the highly priced, and hence unlikely, alternative) and make an offer which Villa would be unwilling, or indeed unable, to match.
Either way, O'Neill still needs to make another defensive signing. Despite some industry speculation that Richard Dunne would be suitable, it is understood that O'Neill has no interest in the City defender, who, in the manner of Zat Knight, sold to Bolton by O'Neill this summer, is prone to the occasional clanger. Wheater, who incidentally is at present Telegraph Fantasy Football's most-selected Championship player, is a more realistic option.
While Villa fans wait for another arrival, Habib Beye's signing from Newcastle has assumed a greater importance. In normal circumstances Beye would be played on the right of defence, but as O'Neill demonstrated by positioning Luke Young on the left for the majority of the season, he is not afraid of deploying players out of position. Beye could be called upon to take up a more central role for now.
Beye is one of those players who strikes a chord with supporters, and he achieved something of a cult status on Tyneside, even having a website, the amusingly-named Beyewatch, dedicated to him.
Judging by what James Milner, briefly a team-mate of his at Newcastle, has to say about him, he will fit in well with the rest of the Villa squad. As some players will be expected to take up unfavourable positions, morale will be an important commodity to have while O'Neill continues his search for reinforcements.
