Villa boss O'Neill lines up his transfer targets: Crouch, Riise, Defoe and Boswinga

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O'Neill, the favourite with the bookmakers to succeed Steve McClaren as England coach, is keen to bring in several big name players in a bid to sustain a push for Europe.

Jermain Defoe in a rare appearance for Spurs

The Liverpool duo of Peter Crouch and John Arne Riise, Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe and FC Porto defender Jose Boswinga are understood to be on O'Neill's radar.

Right-back Boswinga was a target in August and O'Neill has been forced to use central defender Olof Mellberg in the role during the first half of the campaign.

The Irishman has been a long-time admirer of Defoe, who is on the fringe of the side at Tottenham, while he has noted former Villa striker Crouch's lack of first-team opportunities at Anfield.

O'Neill said: "There is no point on me commenting on all the rumours. We are going to be mentioned with players and that is the way it is going to be.

"Between now and Christmas and during January there is going to be plenty of this sort of speculation.

"We will be linked to a lot of players and since one or two are coming out of contract at the end of the season, they are going to be linked with everybody as well.

"At the end of the day we will be looking at a load of players and I know the players who I would be particularly interested in. But I cannot stop speculation."