John Carew could be heading to Serie A this summer as Aston Villa seek to raise funds for new players.

Norwegian hitman Carew, 30, has just 12 months left on his contract at Villa Park.

And both Fiorentina and Sampdoria are keen on the strapping 6ft 4in frontman, who earns £52,000-a-week at Villa.

Carew is very popular with supporters after netting 52 goals in 122 games following a move from Lyon in January 2007.

But Villa have to sell-to-buy as owner Randy Lerner seeks to make the club more financially sustainable.

Now Carew could be offloaded as he will be a free agent next summer and has an uneasy relationship with boss Martin O'Neill.

The pair have had differences of opinion over how to treat Carew's back problems in the past.

Carew was also fined for controversially visiting a strip club in October 2008 the evening before a game.

Carew's probable exit could help fund moves for Spurs' Robbie Keane or Fulham's Bobby Zamora.

Carew, also fancied by Fenerbahce, has admirers in the Premier League but Villa would prefer to sell the marksman abroad so he doesn't return to haunt them.

Villa are Carew's seventh club and he had a spell in Italy before from September 2003 with Roma.