Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill is looking at the prospect of bringing his former defender James Collins to the north-east. The Welsh defender has grown frustrated about the lack of action at Villa Park and it is thought that he is prepared to move on.

Aston Villa have not been competing for the top honours in the league anymore after the departure of Martin O’Neill. Martin O’Neill has recently taken over at Sunderland and it is thought that he is keen to raid his former club Aston Villa for a number of players. James Collins has emerged as that transfer target.

James Collins was signed by Martin O’Neill when he was the Aston Villa manager back in 2009. He has since made 91 appearances for the Premier league club. Even though the new manager Paul Lambert is not willing to let James Collins leave, he is thought to have prepared replacements in case if he decides to bring an end to his three-year stay with Villa. Aston Villa used to be one of the teams mentioned as the likely to break into the top four when Martin O’Neill was in charge, but they have fallen a long way since those days.

The 28-year-old has also been linked with a move to newly promoted West Ham United, but it is thought that he would favour a move to Sunderland to be reunited with his former manager Martin O’Neill. It is thought that a transfer fee of just £ 5 million will be enough to secure his services due to the fact that he has only two seasons left on his current deal. Should West Ham United also enter into the frame for signing the Welsh international, then it would certainly increase the price of the defender because it would start a bidding war between the two clubs.