Last Updated: Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:43
In-form Aston Villa winger Ashley Young has emerged as a shock target for Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Reports on Sunday say the England international's recent fine performances have alerted officials at the Bernabeu and he is among new boss Juande Ramos' top transfer targets.
Villa boss Martin O'Neill will resist all offers for the player he paid £9million for nearly two years ago as his current good form attracts a whole host of admirers.
Young followed up his match-winning double against Everton last weekend with another strike in the 4-2 win over Bolton on Saturday, but remains committed to Villa and it would come as a major surprise if he swapped Birmingham for Madrid.
Meanwhile, further reports suggest Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch is on O'Neill's new year wish-list if he fails to land number one target Emile Heskey from Wigan, with Chelsea said to be tracking the former Leicester and Liverpool man.