Former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan has emerged as a major summer target for Aston Villa.

The £15million rated player - who is also being tracked by Sunderland and Liverpool - was watched on several occasions by Villa manager Martin O'Neill and his staff last season while playing for Villarreal.

The 28-year-old scored 12 goals in 63 games for United before moving to Spain three years ago.

But on average the Uruguay international scores a goal every two games in La Liga and has found the target 54 times in 103 games.

O'Neill is hoping to find a proven goalscorer to play alongside John Carew and challenge the likes of fit again Luke Moore and Gabriel Agbonlahor for a place.

He does not comment on possible transfer targets but said: "It will be hard for me to rely on Gabby (Agbonlahor) this coming season to score the goals which will propel you into European football and to  ask John Carew to do it

"You would be hoping Luke Moore would regain his place after a stop-start season. But you would be thinking we might have to look at bringing in someone else in.

"We played some delightful football in games throughout last season but we did not have the results because we might have missed a goal or two and conceded a very soft goal.

"Overall the team tried to play football and we played well in some games and did not have the results but I am aware it is the results business we are in and that will never change."

It would appear Villa would have to smash their transfer record of £9.5 million to River Plate for Juan Pablo Angel seven years ago to have any hope of acquiring Forlan.

But money should not be a major obstacle given the backing of owner Randy Lerner for O'Neill.