West Midlands rivals alerted to Bouma

Albion, Wolves and Birmingham were today put on alert as Wilfred Bouma targeted a new club in England after his release from Villa.

The Dutchman will leave Villa Park this summer after the club decided against renewing the defender's contract.

But the 31-year-old's agent today revealed the former Holland international wants to remain in the Premier League, opening the way for the likes of Albion, Wolves and Blues to consider a move.

Nonetheless, agent Gerrit Lagendijk rejected morning reports that Albion had already made a move.

He said: "I have heard some rumours but nobody has come to me. At the moment we have received two phonecalls from Dutch teams.

"We haven't heard anything else, but he was only released yesterday and it will take some time. We're not in a rush.

"To be honest he would prefer to remain in England, but only if there was a good offer and a good club."

Albion have made no secret of their desire to recruit seasoned Premier League players in the summer, while Blues have spent much of this season with central defender Liam Ridgewell at left-back.

Wolves are also keen to add to their squad after surviving their first season in the top flight.

Left-back Bouma has not played for Villa's first team since suffering a horror ankle dislocation against Odense in the Intertoto Cup in July 2008, but has recently been back in action for the reserves after two aborted comebacks, the second enforced by a toe injury.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill said: "Freddie epitomises the kind of qualities we associate with top Dutch players and he has been really unfortunate to have been sidelined because of injury.

"That came as a real blow because, as a player, I have the utmost regard for him and he has been a totally positive influence at the club throughout my time here.

"He has fought back strongly to get himself fit again and he really wants to get back to the level of which he is undoubtedly still capable, so he wants to take this opportunity to do tha.

"I wish him only the best."

Bouma, who was signed from PSV Eindhoven by David O'Leary for £3.5million in 2005, made 90 appearances for Villa, scoring one goal – which came in a 4-1 home win over Newcastle in 2007/08.