Aston Villa manager Remi Garde has confirmed that the Premier League strugglers are interested in signing Loic Remy from Chelsea in the January transfer window.

Villa are bottom at the halfway mark of the season, 11 points from safety, and Garde believes that a loan move for his fellow Frenchman could help them escape the drop.

"Loic is a guy I know well, of course it would be an interesting player for the team," Garde, who has previously worked with Remy at Lyon, told reporters.

"He is part of some players I'll try to attract to Aston Villa, for sure.

"Loic is a special one because he knows the country and the league. I have got some targets who could be at this level without knowing the country and the league."

Remy has scored three goals in 14 games this season for Chelsea, but only started once in the league for the defending champions.