Gerard Houllier is hopeful of pushing through a deal to sign Lyon midfielder Jean Makoun in the January transfer window.
The Villa boss is expected to fly out to France to speak to the Ligue 1 giants about completing a deal for a reported £6million.
Cameroon international Makoun, who has fallen out of favour at Les Gones, is expected to leave the club this month after making sporadic starts for the club this season.
The 27-year-old's contract expires in 2012 although Lyon will look to recoup some of the whopping £11million they paid for the athletic, defence-minded midfielder two years ago from Lille.
Houllier, who is well acquainted with Makoun, believes the player will fit in well at Villa Park.
"He could be a good asset for us because he is experienced, he has played Champions League with Lille and Lyon and he is exactly what we need at times," said Houllier.
"He can play as a holding midfielder or as a box-to-box player. He can be both. We are working on it. All you can say is there is dialogue going on at the moment."
With Villa leaving an improved £3.5 million bid on the table for Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam, Houllier admitted the club were also in the market for a striker.
He said: "If you say: 'Are you looking for a striker?' I would say if the opportunity is there, yes, but you don't find them easily.
"Getting a striker itself is not a problem it is mainly the type of striker that you want.
"It depends on what's going to happen. I think John (Carew) will stay for the moment.
"We're always looking for good players, but we're aware that without Emile (Heskey) when he's not there, and John, we're struggling.
"But Gabby Agbonlahor can play and there's Nathan Delfouneso so with Emile and John we've got four."
