Hamburg in £8m pursuit of Baros

Milan Baros could be on the move after one season at Aston Villa having emerged as a leading target for Hamburg.

The German club are understood to be prepared to offer around £8m for the Villa striker - £1m more than Villa paid Liverpool last August.

Baros, 24, finished as Villa's leading scorer last season with 12 goals but was only a qualified success. The Villa manager, David O'Leary, had been hoping Baros would make a big impression at the World Cup to increase his value but the Czech Republic international largely missed out through injury.

O'Leary has already been told by his club chairman, Doug Ellis, that he will have to sell players if he wants to bring in new blood.

Hamburg have not made official contact with Villa, but they hope to speak to O'Leary soon. As insurance against being unsuccessful in landing Baros, Hamburg are keeping tabs on Nuremberg's Robert Vittek. The 24-year-old Slovakian scored 16 goals for his club last season.