Villa move for Benfica's Nelson is denied

Feb 12 2008

VILLA are denying suggestions in Portugal they had a bid turned down for Benfica right-back Nelson last month.

Benfica said this week they rejected an approach from Villa for the player.

But it is understood there was no bid from Martin O'Neill, despite some interest in the defender.

The Portugal Under-21 international has impressed both domestically and in European duty over the past couple of seasons and has attracted the attention of a number of clubs.

Villa are known to be in the market for a right-back, with Olof Mellberg's departure to Juventus at the end of the present campaign leaving an obvious gap needing to be filled this summer.

O'Neill has long been been an admirer of Porto's Jose Bosingwa, but Champions League involvement and a price tag of more than £20million had put Villa off.

Now, though, O'Neill appears to have lined up Nelson whose existing deal expires in the summer of 2009, even though the level of interest has been exaggerated according to Villa.

Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira claims Villa lodged an offer in the January transfer window, but it fell short of their £8million valuation.

"Nelson is a key member of our side," he said.

"The money offered does not correspond with his market value."