Villa have cooled their interest in Middlesbrough’s £8million-rated defender David Wheater.

The Express & Star understands the 22-year-old has slipped down manager Martin O’Neill’s list of replacements for Martin Laursen.

England hopeful Wheater has been widely linked with a move to Villa Park following Middlesbrough’s relegation.

While it is true his situation at the Riverside Stadium was being monitored closely by the claret and blues, reports of a bid being lodged for the defender are thought to be wide of the mark.

Only last week Boro chief executive Keith Lamb last week claimed Wheater would be a “cornerstone of their defence in future years.”

It is believed the Teessiders’ reluctance to sell, coupled with O’Neill’s eagerness to land a more experienced figure to fill the void left by his retired skipper, has resulted in Villa switching their attention elsewhere.

At home, Portsmouth’s Sylvain Distin, West Ham’s Matthew Upson, Fulham’s Brede Hangeland, Arsenal’s Philippe Senderos and Everton’s Joleon Lescott are all on the radar.

But O’Neill is likely to again lose out to Manchester City for Lescott, should the Toffees decide to welcome bids for the former Wolves star.

Overseas, Rosenborg defender Vadim Demidov is rumoured to have been watched by Villa.

O’Neill currently has just Curtis Davies, Carlos Cuellar and Zat Knight competing for the two central defensive slots.

Sources close to the club have confirmed he views addressing the centre of defence as a priority over the centre of midfield.

Solihull-born Knight is interesting Wolves and Birmingham, but it is understood the former Fulham man would not be sold before fresh blood arrives.