Gabriel Agbonlahor set to sign new deal

Aston Villa are hoping to tie winger Gabriel Agbonlahor to a new long-term contract by the end of the week.
Agbonlahor, 20, signed a new deal 12 months ago but his form has earned him a new contract offer that would keep him at Villa Park until 2010.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill said: "With luck, Gabby's new contract should be sorted out some time this week.

"He has taken his chances, done excellently and would probably be my choice as Villa's player of the year."

He added: "We're all delighted with him. If you ask him, he would have been happy to play 10 or 12 times this season, with a few more substitute appearances on top of that."

O'Neill is also hoping to clinch new deals with midfielder Gavin McCann and central defender Olof Mellberg.

Mellberg has declared he wants to stay at Villa Park but McCann has refused to talk about a new contract.

O'Neill stated: "Until I speak to the agents to see what is happening, anything can crop up. I wouldn't be complacent about anything."

The Villa boss insisted his first aim is to sort out the futures of current Villa players before looking to strengthen his side.

O'Neill, who has been linked with Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy, said: "I'd like to sort out our boys already here before I go further with anything else, which I intend to do over the next fortnight."