Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri wants a deal for Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg.

The Sweden star is set to sign a pre-contract agreement with Ranieri's Juve in January and can leave Villa Park on a Bosman next summer.

But ex-Chelsea chief Ranieri wanted to make absolutely sure Mellberg, 30, would fit into the Turin set-up.

There has been a representative from Juventus at all 19 of Mellberg's matches and the reports have compared him with famous old-boy Paolo Montero.

Mellberg has played out of position at right-back this season because Villa are short in that area.