Villa 'link' to midfield ace Diarra as Martinez 'has offers'

VILLA have been linked with a move for creative midfielder Habib Diarra - the captain of French side Strasbourg who just missed out on European football for next season.

- By JOSEPH CHAPMAN

Diarra, who is only 21 despite being handed the armband this past season, played 30 games and made nine goal contributions under boss Liam Rosenior.

The Senegal international came through the ranks in Strasbourg and has already clocked up more than 100 first-team appearances.

Villa, it is claimed, took an interest from afar in Diarra last season and have continued to keep tabs on him this campaign, another year during which he has flourished once more.

It's believed that Diarra would command a transfer fee upwards of £25 million. Everton and Nottingham Forest have also scouted Diarra, while Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt have also previously had a bid, in the region of £15m, rejected by Strasbourg - but they're open to selling at the right price.