O'Leary on reconnaissance mission to Moscow

Aston Villa manager David O’Leary has been running the rule over potential targets in the Russian primera Liga.

O’Leary attended the game between Shinnik Yaroslavl and Spartak Moscow on Saturday and following the game admitted he was very interested in signing one of the Spartak players.

Although he failed to identify the player, O’Leary is reportedly interested in Serbia & Montenegro international defender Nemanja Vidic.

He said: “I’ve visited Yaroslavl to watch some Spartak players we’re interested in. There is one player in Spartak I’d sign now but the final decision, as you understand, will be made by our board not me,” O’Leary told Sport-Express.

“Moreover, according to the regulations we can register new players only from January 1, so my trip is of reconnaissance kind.”

Spartak chief executive Sergei Shavlo insists nobody from Aston Villa had asked him about signing any of his players.