Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is preparing a £3.5 million bid for Manchester United defender Wes Brown.

The People says Brown, 29, has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford and O'Neill will guarantee him regular first-team football - which will boost his chances of getting in Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.

With his 30th birthday just around the corner, Brown will have to be playing regularly if he is to get in Capello's squad for South Africa next year. A move to Villa will give him that.

- TribalFootball.com