Portuguese giants Benfica claim they rejected a big-money approach from Aston Villa for full-back Nelson in last month's transfer window.The Portugal Under-21 international defender has impressed both domestically and in European duty over the past couple of seasons and is not thought to be short of admirers.

Villa are known to be in the market for a right-back, with Olof Mellberg's departure to Juventus at the end of the present campaign only likely to see Martin O'Neill intensify his search.

The Ulsterman has previously been linked with Porto's Jose Bosingwa but it would appear he has trained his sights on another full-back who plies his trade in Portugal.

Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira claims Villa lodged an offer in the January transfer window, but it fell short of their £8.2million valuation.

Vieira said: "Nelson is a key member of our side and the money (offered) does not correspond with his market value."

Nelson's existing deal expires in the summer of 2009.

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