Villa are looking to a Samba star in a bid to bolster their thin looking squad ahead of the new campaign.
Lille midfielder Michel Bastos is reported to be a £12m target for Martin O'Neill but it appears money-bags Spurs are also in the running.
Bastos, 25, is keen to move to the Premier League as he aims to secure a World Cup place for the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
According to reports, Brazil coach Dunga has promised Bastos a place in his squad should the goalscoring lynch-pin secure a regular starting place in England.
Villa, more so than Spurs, could guarantee him that and should O'Neill make a move there would be little persuasion needed on the manager's part.