West Ham and Aston Villa are both interested in signing Lazio midfielder Milan Badelj, according to reports in Italy.

The Villans’ interest in the Croatian international is dependent on the Championship club being promoted when they face Derby in the playoff final on Bank Holiday Monday.

However, the Hammers are also believed to be considering a swoop for Badelj, who was not a regular starter for Lazio last season.

The 30-year-old only joined the Biancocelesti on a free transfer from Fiorentina last summer, but the Italian club’s manager Simone Inzaghi has only started the holding midfielder 13 times in the league.

Sergey Milinkovic-Savic and former Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva are the first choice pairing in central midfield leaving Badelj as a bit-part player for the Serie A side.

The Croatian is hugely experienced having made 45 appearances for his country, as well as playing 130 games in Italy’s top flight for both Fiorentina and Lazio.