Villa boss Martin O’Neill’s bid to beef up his goalkeeping department has triggered a move for Liverpool’s England Under-21 hero Scott Carson.

O’Neill wants a stronger challenge to Thomas Sorensen than that provided by current understudy Stuart Taylor, who is set for a move to Championship club Cardiff.

He sees Carson, one of England’s most impressive figures in the European Under-21 championships,  as the man eventually to  replace Sorensen and a £3.5m deal is being mooted.

The Villa boss had been linked to Bolton’s Jussi Jaaskelainen. But the keeper’s agent, Peter Harrison, said: “Jussi has decided that he is going to see out the final year of his contract and assess the situation after that.“

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Villa boss Martin O’Neill’s bid to beef up his goalkeeping department has triggered a move for Liverpool’s England Under-21 hero Scott Carson.

O’Neill wants a stronger challenge to Thomas Sorensen than that provided by current understudy Stuart Taylor, who is set for a move to Championship club Cardiff.

He sees Carson, one of England’s most impressive figures in the European Under-21 championships,  as the man eventually to  replace Sorensen and a £3.5m deal is being mooted.

The Villa boss had been linked to Bolton’s Jussi Jaaskelainen. But the keeper’s agent, Peter Harrison, said: “Jussi has decided that he is going to see out the final year of his contract and assess the situation after that.

“I’ve spoken to (manager) Sammy Lee and he is delighted.”

Carson is looking for the chance to pin down a Premiership starting spot  to advance his England claims but Liverpool’s Rafa Benitez is reluctant to offer him that opportunity at Anfield.

The link with the 21-year-old is the latest transfer prospect to entangle Villa in a summer of heated activity which continues to be felt at the box office.

Fans queued overnight to snap up the second block of North Stand Lower season tickets which went on sale today – the cheapest tickets in the Premiership. 

North Stand lower adult season tickets are just £200, while junior fans (Under-16) can snap up a season ticket for £50 – just £2.64 a game.

Season ticket sales are on course for a record high at Villa.