Football
PA Sport 10y

Paul Lambert eager to extend deals of Villa duo Fabian Delph and Ron Vlaar

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has revealed that resolving the futures of Ron Vlaar and Fabian Delph is his main priority.

The Scottish manager penned a new four-year deal this week while Gabriel Agbonlahor and Alan Hutton have also recently signed contract extensions at the Midlands outfit.

New England international Delph and captain Vlaar, who was heavily linked with a move to Southampton in the summer after an impressive World Cup with Netherlands, only have a year left on their existing deals at Villa Park.

And, after Lambert committed himself to the club until 2018, he wants to tie his key players down to similar long-term deals.

#INSERT type:image caption:Vlaar's impressive performances have coincided with Aston Villa possessing the best defensive record in the league. END#

"That's the next agenda, to speak to those lads and see if we can do things,'' he said.

"Other lads have re-signed again and if we can get those lads tied up that's what we'll try to do.''

Villa host Arsenal on Saturday second in the Premier League with Vlaar a major doubt with the calf injury which forced him to miss the 1-0 win at Liverpool at the weekend.

Christian Benteke is also still sidelined but has trained this week without trouble. The striker returned on Monday following five months out with a ruptured Achilles but Lambert insists the Belgium international is not guaranteed a starting spot once he is fit.

#INSERT type:image caption:Lambert says that Benteke will have to fight his way back into the starting lineup. END#

"It's massive for him, he has trained all week and had no adverse reaction. He has got to work hard to try to get back in the side,'' he said.

"Gabby [Agbonlahor] and Andi [Weimann] are playing great, the front lads are on form, but this week Christian has done really well.

"I'm not sure [when he'll be back], it's his first week. He trained this morning and speaking to him after training he felt good.''

Fellow forward Libor Kozak will have a routine check-up at hospital on Friday as he recovers from the broken leg he suffered in January.

^ Back to Top ^