Aston Villa Manager Martin O'Neill pleased with prospect of Luke Young and Steve Sidwell staying
Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill has said that he is pleased by the prospect of Luke Young and Steve Sidwell staying at Aston Villa next season. Both players had been speculated to move away from Villa Park before the window closes, but now it looks like both of them might be staying.
Luke Young was being hunted down by Liverpool, but the bid made from the Merseyside club was not accepted by Villa. O’Neill had earlier said that the price offered by Liverpool is way below the estimated cost of the player. While Sidwell had been reportedly chased down by Fulham, the new manager at Craven Cottage, Mark Hughes, however, has not shown much interest in attaining the services of the former Chelsea man.
Martin O’Neill said that he does not know the full extent of the transfer deals for the two players at this point, but said that if he still has the two in the squad, he would be more than happy. While talking to a British newspaper, the manager said that Liverpool had shown interest in Luke Young and also made a bid. However, he added that he directly does not interfere with the transfers if a player is willing to go. O’Neill said that the club’s stance of not letting a player go under the estimated price stands, and that may be the reason he is still here.
He added that he knows that the player had expressed his desire to leave, but if he does not, he would once again accept him like he was part of the team. The Scotsman said that the fans also welcome back players with open arms and do not hold anything against a player if he desires to move. He added that in the modern game, it is normal for players to move around and this is just another season in the transfer market.
The manager said that as for now, both players are part of the team, and will be playing for Villa in the next match. Aston Villa is currently on a pre-season tour to Portugal.
O’Neill said that right now the team is focused on getting ready for the season, and all the players including Sidwell and Young are working hard in the camp. He added that the transfer sagas go on for way too long and rumours and speculations, even though normal, are not healthy for a team. He said that when a team is training together and there are rumours of a few players leaving, it creates an atmosphere of uncertainty.
While commenting on Sidwell, he said that Ajax’s Martin Jol, the man who was supposed to take over at Fulham, was very interested in him. He added that now that Mark Hughes has taken over, the club has not heard much from Fulham. He went on to say that whenever they come knocking, the club will hear their offer and decide accordingly.
He added that Sidwell played for Villa in the last match against Walsall and gave it his all, so there is no question of the player not giving it a 100%. He said that until a deal is done all the players in the squad are playing for Aston Villa and working towards the same goal.
Martin O’Neill said that last season was a good one for the club, apart from a few slip-ups in the end that cost them the 4th spot. The team played a good brand of football; he said that the aim remains the same for the team. He ended by saying that he would not sabotage any transfers if a player wants to leave, but if they decide to stay, they will be no different from the others.
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