Hamburg midfielder Nigel de Jong has reportedly emerged as a summer transfer target for Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill.Villa owner Randy Lerner has granted the Ulsterman substantial transfer funds to finance a summer spending spree, and O'Neill is now casting his gaze towards the Dutch international.
Hamburg are understood to be ready to off-load de Jong after a disappointing season in which they flirted with relegation before finishing a respectable seventh in the Bundesliga.
However, Hamburg sporting director Dietmar Beiersdorfer has played down speculation linking the 22-year-old with a move to England.
"We have heard rumours of interest from Villa but at the moment there is no news," said the Hamburg official.
De Jong joined Hamburg in a £700,000 deal from Ajax 18 months ago, and his former team-mate in the Dutch capital, Wesley Sneijder, has also been linked with a move to Villa.
However, Premiership rivals Tottenham are also understood to be keen on the talented playmaker.
