Football Transfer News – According to a report in the British tabloid The Daily Mirror, Premier League clubs Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur are keeping tabs on Razvan Rat.

The 27-year-old left-back currently plies his trade with Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk and was part of the side that knocked Spurs out of the Uefa Cup recently.

It is thought that the Romanian international, who has won 53 caps to date, might be available for a fee in the region of €5 million (£4.5m).

If Rat does move to the midlands in the summer, it will surely signal the beginning of the end of Nicky Shorey’s spell at Villa Park. Shorey has failed to convince manager Martin O’Neill since signing from Reading. Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s future at Spurs could also be in question if Harry Redknapp wins the battle for his services.