Alex McLeish looks to Karl Henry to strengthen Aston Villa midfield

Alex McLeish has identified Wolverhampton Wanderers' Karl Henry as a transfer target as part of plans to add some much needed experience to Aston Villa's callow midfield this summer. Henry, 29, has two years remaining on his contract at Molineux but has endured a frustrating season that started with him losing the captaincy to Roger Johnson and ended with relegation to the Championship. Whether Villa's interest in Henry turns into something more concrete is likely to depend on the managerial situation at the club, with McLeish's position set to come under review after the final game of the season, at Norwich on Sunday. McLeish has spoken of the need to augment a young squad with the addition of some senior players in the summer, and said after the 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday that he expects to be given the chance to spend a second season in charge. Meanwhile, Stoke City are considering making a move for Martin Olsson, the Blackburn Rovers left-back who is set to be one of a number of players on the way out of Ewood Park in the wake of relegation. Tony Pulis, the Stoke manager, is keen to recruit another left-back, with Danny Higginbotham and Danny Collins both expected to leave the Midlands club this summer, and has earmarked the Sweden international Olsson as a possible signing.