New Contracts?

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

I think we should also get Guzan signed up to a new contract, Saturdays game was a reminder of just how good he is

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I'm more concerned that Delph hasn't signed a new contract. I appreciate he's a very down to earth lad but we're now into October and we're still not hearing anything.

[Matt C]

Something happening with Grealish it seems: http://t.co/yaqRywmGYV (via Sky)

[Villafirst]

Something happening with Grealish it seems: http://t.co/yaqRywmGYV (via Sky)

Seems to be taking a long time to conclude the new contract considering this has been 'close' for a while now. Could be that Chelsea's agents have been in touch?

[Toronto Villa]

Grealish expected to sign a new 4yr deal this week and Delph has one on the table which I reckon he'll sign. Vlaar would be the obvious doubt and I imagine there is doubt on both sides. Vlaar as it will be his last major contract in his career, Villa in tying themselves to an excellent but injury prone player. I'd expect Villa to have offered him a shorter 2-3yr deal with a number of clauses related to appearances and Vlaar will likely want more security than that like 4 years with compensation guarantees.

[ozzjim]

Grealish signed up to the same agents as Cole and Bale. Enjoy him while we can.

[saunders_heroes]

Heard something on the radio tonight about Villa offering to double Vlaar's wages in an effort to keep him at the club.

[PeterWithesShin]

Bye Ron.

[PeterWithesShin]

Aston Villa have made a formal new contract offer to Fabian Delph as they try to keep the England midfielder.

Delph, 24, is in the final year of his deal at Villa Park after joining from Leeds in August 2009.

Following a slow start to his time in the Midlands, he is now in demand after his superb form in the last two seasons earned full England recognition.

Villa’s player of the year last term is on good Premier League money in his existing deal from when American owner Randy Lerner was splashing the cash.

But Villa have offered him a new four-year terms after boss Paul Lambert visited Lerner in the USA.

Delph is now considering his options as he knows he would be much sought after on a Bosman transfer next summer.

If he refuses to sign the deal, Villa will face a dilemma in January over whether to cash in on their star.

One player is definitely staying at Villa, for the time being at least. Fellow midfielder Jack Grealish, 19, will sign a new four-year contract with Villa this week.

[PeterWithesShin]

Jack Grealish is poised to sign a new £20,000-a-week contract at Aston Villa after joining Stellar Group, the football agency which represents Gareth Bale and Ashley Cole.

Grealish, the highly-rated teenage winger, is expected to conclude talks in the next 48 hours over a four-year deal that will land him a significant pay increase and kill off interest from clubs including Chelsea and Manchester City.

The 19-year-old is regarded as one of the most promising youngsters in the Premier League and had been at the centre of a fierce battle between a number of leading agencies for the past few months.

But Stellar, who are co-owned by Jonathan Barnett, have won the chase to sign him up after reaching an agreement with Grealish’s father Kevin this month.

It is thought that negotiations with Villa have been conducted through Stellar agent David Manasseh. Grealish has only made four appearances as a substitute for Villa this season but has been on the radar of clubs including Chelsea and City for a number of years following his progress at academy level.

Chelsea had identified him as a potential target and were encouraged by his contract situation, with his current £2,000-a-week deal expiring at the end of this season.

However, talks are understood to have progressed rapidly over the last 24 hours and Villa are expected to announce Grealish has committed his future to the club in the next few days.

Paul Lambert, the Villa manager, has frequently insisted Grealish’s career would be best served staying in the West Midlands and the club were always confident of retaining him as his association with the club began when he was only six years old.

Grealish is also considering a decision on his international future, with England and Ireland both keen on taking the Birmingham-born player. He has played for the Ireland under-21s but Gareth Southgate wants him to choose England.
Roy Keane, the Ireland and Villa assistant manager, insisted last week that too much pressure was already being heaped on the youngster’s shoulders.

“He’s done very little in the game yet. People are getting a bit carried away, he’s not started a game in the league for Villa, he’s not scored a goal yet, he’s not got an assist yet,” he said.

“If he wants to come and play for Ireland, we’ll be delighted but we can’t be begging people either. If they want to play for Ireland, fantastic. If not, we’ll have to accept it.”

[Toronto Villa]

Grealish signed up to the same agents as Cole and Bale. Enjoy him while we can.

If he goes on to be something special somewhere else he'll need to be special with us. The job of the club is to not only develop him but develop around him so he won't feel that he has to leave. We've lost so many very good players because we couldn't offer them a future that was anything beyond what they had already achieved. That has to change.

[Malandro]

Whatever happens, It would be special to see 'one of ours' at the top of the game.

[Villan For Life]

Whatever happens, It would be special to see 'one of ours' at the top of the game.

As long as they're still playing for us. They're no longer one of ours when they move on.

[PaulWinch again]

Grealish signed up to the same agents as Cole and Bale. Enjoy him while we can.

If he goes on to be something special somewhere else he'll need to be special with us. The job of the club is to not only develop him but develop around him so he won't feel that he has to leave. We've lost so many very good players because we couldn't offer them a future that was anything beyond what they had already achieved. That has to change.

Let's hope he signs on for the next four years and does amazingly well for us. Then if and when he leaves it'll be for a lot of money that will benefit the club.

[PaulWinch again]

Aston Villa have made a formal new contract offer to Fabian Delph as they try to keep the England midfielder.

Delph, 24, is in the final year of his deal at Villa Park after joining from Leeds in August 2009.

Following a slow start to his time in the Midlands, he is now in demand after his superb form in the last two seasons earned full England recognition.

Villa’s player of the year last term is on good Premier League money in his existing deal from when American owner Randy Lerner was splashing the cash.

But Villa have offered him a new four-year terms after boss Paul Lambert visited Lerner in the USA.

Delph is now considering his options as he knows he would be much sought after on a Bosman transfer next summer.

If he refuses to sign the deal, Villa will face a dilemma in January over whether to cash in on their star.

One player is definitely staying at Villa, for the time being at least. Fellow midfielder Jack Grealish, 19, will sign a new four-year contract with Villa this week.

I really hope Delph has been offered terms which reflect his status and also that he remembers that the club did give him a contract when he was struggling with injuries.