Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill has identified Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson as a replacement for England International Gareth Barry, who looks destined to leave Villa Park for Liverpool.

20-year-old Johnson made his debut for the City first team in 2006 and has made 33 appearances for the Blues along with an England Under-21 International cap.

Johnson is keen on a move away from the Eastlands Stadium, with reports that the midfielder was unhappy at the way former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was treated by City. It is also believed that Johnson is unhappy about not having financial parity with some of the other players at Manchester City.

North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with Johnson this summer along with Merseyside club Everton, with City valuing Johnson in the region of £10million.

Villans boss O’Neill is keen to strengthen his squad for next season, having already made an offer recently for Blackburn Rovers’ England International David Bentley in excess of £10million and an unsuccessful attempt to land Tom Huddlestone from Spurs.

O”Neill said:“We have got targets in mind – people we want to bring in. I’d love to be 100 per cent successful with every one that we target, but we would not be the only club doing that.

“We have started things off. We need to build the club up, we know that. Competition for places would be really healthy.

“We need to improve the team and we know where we need to improve the side.

“If we are going to contest things this season, and who knows we could be beaten in the Inter-Toto Cup on Saturday, but if we are going to sustain a run in the Premier League and try and stay in other competitions, then we need the squad.”

New City manager Mark Hughes will not want to lose one of his brightest young talents, especially as Johnson only signed a new four-year deal last August.