Michael Owen is in line to become Gerard Houllier's first signing for Aston Villa.
The new Villa boss is set to make a swoop for the former England striker during the January transfer window either on loan or for a nominal fee.
Houllier watched Owen play in Jamie Carragher's testimonial game at Anfield last Saturday and was impressed by his form and fitness.
He will be keen to reunite his relatonship with the striker which flourished so successfully at Liverpool that Owen was named European Player of the Year in 2001 after helping fire the club to a treble of trophy successes.
Owen's contract with Manchester United expires at the end of the season and he remains a bit-part player at Old Trafford.
He might welcome to chance to reignite and extend his career by another two years at Villa under Houllier.
And it would be the sort of budget signing which will appeal to owner Randy Lerner whose decision to tighten the purse-strings led to the resignation of Martin O'Neill.
Meanwhile, Holland keeper Maarten Stekelenburg has emerged as Manchester United's number one choice to succeed Edwin van der Sar.
The Dutch keeper is on United's wanted list after van der Sar nominated Stekelenburg as his potential replacement.
A United delegation watched his man-of-the-match performance for Holland against Finland last Tuesday.
Van der Sar is in the final year of his playing contract at United, but is expected to remain as a goalkeeping coach.
The Ajax keeper, 27, replaced van der Sar in the national team and was in goal for the World Cup final against Spain.
Stekelenburg has been part of the Dutch senior squad for six years and spent a large part of that as van der Sar's understudy.
United chief Sir Alex Ferguson has enlisted van der Sar's help as he searches for his long-term successor.
Stekelenburg fits the bill, but United are under no pressure to make an official move for the keeper.
United sold Ben Foster to Birmingham last summer and No2 Tomasz Kuszczak has missed the boat.
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