Robbie Keane set for Aston Villa move

Out of favour Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane looks set to be given the chance to resurrect his faltering career with a move to Aston Villa in January.

Despite an impressive pre-season, the bubbly 30-year old has been frozen out at Spurs so far this campaign with Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko ahead of him in the pecking order at White Hart Lane.

Keane’s lack of first team action has also affected his performances for the national side, as he looked woefully short of sharpness and confidence in recent matches against Russia and Slovakia.

Villa manager Gerard Houllier had been linked with a move for Manchester United’s Michael Owen, who played under the Frenchman at Liverpool, but Houllier himself has insisted that Owen is not amongst his targets, with Keane seemingly top of the list as Houllier looks for an alternative to the bumbling John Carew and Emile Heskey up front.

Harry Redknapp is a big fan of flying Villa winger Ashley Young and may look to bring the former Watford man in part exchange for Keane, although Houllier will be reluctant to part with one of his star players.

A bid in the region of £8 million (€9.5 million) may be enough to persuade Redknapp to part with the Irish captain, however, as it would help Redknapp to add to his already impressive squad in the January transfer window.