Newcastle full-back Habib Beye could be set to turn down a move to Hull in favour of a switch to Villa, according to the Express and Star.
It is believed that Beye fancies Europa League football and although the Tigers have already had a bid of around £2.5m accepted by the Magpies, Martin O'Neill is set to make a late swoop.
With Luke Young nursing a thigh injury, Beye would have a big chance of facing Wigan at Villa Park on August 15 and then lining-up against Rapid Vienna five days later in Austria.
And the prospect of playing in those kind of crunch clashes at home and abroad could tempt Beye into a Midlands switch.
The 31 year-old is a very versatile character and he would also provide cover at centre-back for first choice pairing Carlos Cuellar and Curtis Davies.
O'Neill would definitely benefit from adding another option to his defensive ranks but he will have to move quickly if he is to gazump Phil Brown's Hull.