Villa run rule over keeper
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is expected to decide by the weekend whether to firm up his interest in signing goalkeeper Steve Mandanda from Le Havre.
The French Under-21 international is currently on trial with Villa after requesting a transfer at the end of last season.
Le Havre chairman Jean-Pierre Louvel said: "The discussions with Aston Villa haven't started yet. They should take a position on what they are going to do before the end of the week."
O'Neill is keen to bolster his goalkeeping department amid speculation that Thomas Sorensen is not to be offered a new contract.
Sorensen, who was first choice last season, has only 11 months remaining of his current deal.
O'Neill also watched Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon at the end of last season and has been keeping tabs on Bolton's Jussi Jaaskelainen and Liverpool's Scott Carson.
O'Neill's only summer signing to date is Nigel Reo-Coker and the £8.5million capture from West Ham is confident Villa can attain a top-six finish in the Barclays Premier League.
He said: "The top six is realistic because Villa have got the players, and always have had, and now they're heading in the right direction."
