NEWS:GERARD HOULLIER has confirmed Ashley Young will not be sold next month and that Aston Villa are giving serious consideration to forfeiting any transfer fee for the England international by making him see out the remainder of his contract.

Young, who has 18 months remaining on his deal, was on the verge of signing a new four-year contract in October but pulled out at the last minute and informed Villa he was not interested in returning to the negotiating table until the summer.

With Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur showing interest, Young’s actions suggested he was keen to give himself the best possible chance of moving at the end of the season by reducing the fee Villa could demand. Houllier, however, remains hopeful Young can be persuaded to stay. He also confirmed that should the player refuse to sign a new deal, both he and Randy Lerner, the club’s owner, are “brave” enough to hold the 25-year-old to his contract.

Houllier said Villa would change their stance only if offered “crazy money”. “Ashley won’t go in January,” the manager said. “We are hoping we can keep him (in the long-term). The club’s will is to keep him. It would be brave to hang on to him (until the end of his contract) but I’m brave and I think Mr Lerner is too. I think it would be good to keep him. Sometimes it pays to hang on to players because you think you will finish in a better position.”

Guardian Service