Villa boss O'Neill flies in to scout Bayern's big Belgian Van Buyten

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O'Neill is looking for more muscle at the back as he waits for the exit of 30-year-old Swedish veteran Olof Mellberg to Juventus on a free transfer.

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Hear goes: Villa are chasing Bayern defender Daniel van Buyten

Van Buyten is looking to come to the Premier League and was a target of O'Neill's when he was Celtic chief, but the 6ft 5in defender chose to stay in the Bundesliga instead, according to reports in the Daily Mirror.

The strapping centre-half has had a mixed time at Bayern and wanted to leave in the last transfer window, but was priced out of an exit.

Bayern would want around £4million for the Belgian international, 30, and O'Neill may make that offer soon rather than risk an auction in the summer.

O'Neill flew to Munich to watch the UEFA Cup quarter-final clash with Spain's Getafe. He was also checking on Getafe right-back Cosmin Contra - who is an Everton target.

But Czech midfielder Patrik Berger will quit Villa Park in the summer.