The video will start in 8 Cancel

Sign up NOW for our daily Villa newsletter direct to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Aston Villa are surprisingly among the favourites to land Jermain Defoe this summer.

There is expected to be a scramble to sign the England hitman with Sunderland joining Villa in the Championship next season and the claret and blues are among the bookies' list of possible destinations.

While plenty of Premier League sides appear to be more obvious destinations, Villa are currently 8/1 to land Defoe this summer.

Other contenders Bournemouth and West Ham are 8/13 and 5/2, respectively, but Villa are also being backed to land the striker, who has scored 14 Premier League goals this season.

Another player the bookies believe might arrive at Villa Park this summer is Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy.

Ruddy also has experience of being involved in the national set-up and was released by the Canaries yesterday after a seven-year stay.

Could either deal happen?

Defoe is a deal that any Championship side will struggle to complete. The sheer size of Villa would be a draw but Premier League football would prolong his England career heading towards the 2018 World Cup.

However, Ruddy is a very realistic option. The goalkeeper has a vast amount of experience at Championship level and Villa are in the market for a new No.1.

Manager Steve Bruce is keen to land current custodian Sam Johnstone but it remains to be seen if Manchester United will play ball.