Defender Link Denied

Last updated : 14 May 2009 By Tom Vickers
Ajax Technical Director Danny Blind has said that he is yet to receive an inquiry from Villa for Belgian centre back Thomas Vermaelen.

Martin O'Neill was in Amsterdam at the weekend as he begins his search for new recruits but according to Blind no concrete approach has been made.

Vermaelen, 23, has attracted plenty of interest in Europe and Villa had firsthand experience of the big defender earlier in the season as he scored Ajax's goal in their 2-1 defeat at Villa Park in the UEFA Cup.

With Martin Laursen set to retire after a persistent knee injury ruled him out for a further nine months, O'Neill knows he must move quickly to secure his top transfer targets.

Vermaelen, who has been capped 13 times by his country, would be available for around £6m which is well within Villa's summer budget.