Real track Villa star and other transfer gossip

The impressive recent form of Aston Villa centre-back Carlos Cuellar has alerted Real Madrid. The 28-year-old enjoyed an unspectacular start to his Villa career following a £8m move from Rangers in August 2008. But he has really come into his own this season and according to reports in Spain he is being closely watched by Real Madrid scouts as well as selectors for the Spanish national team. Elsewhere, Tottenham are determined to offload £12m Russian flop Roman Pavlyuchenko, but only if the price is right; Sunderland are planning a January bid for Wigan's £4m-rated defender Maynor Figueroa; Wigan are considering a move for Chile defender Waldo Ponce, who plays for Velez Sarsfield in Argentina; and Arsenal are concerned that defender Mikael Silvestre could leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the season.