Thursday, January 17, 2008

O'Neill Desperately Wants Laursen To Stay

Danish centre-back looks like staying at Aston Villa, where the club have made it lear how much they want him.

Villa manager, Martin O'Neill - who is being linked with a bid for Spurs striker Jermain Defoe this month - wants to remove any uncertainty over Laursen's future.

The Ulsterman wants Laursen's contract situation to be resolved as quickly as possible, and believes the 30-year-old Dane's outstanding form this season has earned him a lucrative new deal.

Laursen, who joined Villa from AC Milan in 2004, was still being plagued by a knee injury when O'Neill was appointed as Villa manager in August 2006, and as a result his first team appearances were restricted to just 27 in his first three seasons at Villa Park.

But he has been ever present so far in this campaign, and also chipped in with an invaluable six goals.

Not surprisingly, O'Neill admitted that it would be a big blow for Villa if Laursen opted to leave the club when his current contract expires at the end of this season.

"We are desperate to keep him, have done everything we possibly can, and want to come to an agreement," O'Neill said.

"Aston Villa fans, just the same as ourselves - all the backroom staff - want him to stay. He is a great lad but more than that he has the heart the size of a lion."

The Villa boss admits that when he first took over at the club, he wondered whether Laursen's best days were already behind him.

"You would have been hard pressed to find anyone to believe Martin would have made the impact that he has done for Villa this season," said O'Neill.

"But that is down to him although I think the medical staff have also helped him as well."

O'Neill added: "This has had nothing to do anymore with him having to prove himself in terms of staying free from injury and he has played three times a week consistently.

"Anyone can get injured at any given moment, but he has proved himself and deserves a new contract."

Meanwhile, Defoe is reported to have held talks with O'Neill after being told he can leave Tottenham by manager Juande Ramos.

Spurs want £10million for Defoe, which could be a stumbling block, but O'Neill is anxious to boost his attacking options because Luke Moore has rejected Villa's offer of a new contract, while Norwegian John Carew has been injury-prone.

Villa also have ex-West Ham striker Marlon Harewood in their squad, although he has not made an impact at Villa Park as yet.


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