According to reports from the Sun, Aston Villa chairman Randy Lerner has held one-on-one talks with Ashley Young in an attempt to persuade the 25-year-old that his future still lies at Villa Park. Any stay would obviously be dependant on Premier League survival, of which the club are far from certain, but it is believed that the American still holds high hopes ahead of what should be a busy summer and turnaround season next term. The winger has shot to the limelight, thanks in no small part to eye-catching performances for England, with his contract running out in the summer of 2012. The Villa man reportedly rejected a £10,000 a week wage increase before Christmas, choosing instead to hold off talks until the end of the season, drawing the attention of the likes of Man United, who are thought to be strong favourites for his capture were he to move. His man of the match displays at international appear to have added some value, with reports earlier suggesting a fee of around£10-12m would be enough to force Villa’s hand. An asking price of up to £25m has also been touted so somewhere in between is probably most likely, with many Villa fans resigned to losing their star man after a dreadful opening campaign under Gerard Houllier.
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