Martin O'Neill has identified four players from former club Aston Villa that he is keen to add to his Sunderland squad, according to The People.

The Irish boss would like to sign one of Carlos Cuellar, Richard Dunne and James Collins to bolster his defensive options, while he is also tracking Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov.

O'Neill signed all four players during his spell in charge at Villa Park.

Villa manager Alex McLeish is reportedly eager to keep hold of the quartet, but recently admitted that he may be forced to sell one or two players during the January transfer window in order to make some purchases of his own.