Martin Laursen says Aston Villa playing 'dangerous game' over contract talks

Dec 10 2007 By Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN Laursen has admitted that Villa are playing a dangerous game in their efforts to hold on to a trio of out-of-contract defenders.

Laursen and Olof Mellberg have their deals ending in six months and can talk to foreign clubs about signing pre-contract agreements in just three weeks time.

Mellberg may well have already decided to move to Juventus next season, although Martin O'Neill is still intent on doing all he can to persuade the Swedish defender to stay.

Wilfred Bouma's future is also in doubt although Villa can take up an extra season if they notify him by the end of April.

Laursen, linked with Tottenham a few weeks back, is insistent that no talks have yet taken place with Villa, and asked if the club were playing "a dangerous game", the Danish defender replied: "A bit, yes."

"That is his (O'Neill's) tactic", added Laursen.

"What can I say? We will see what happens. We may have talks next week.

"Is it moving closer? I don't know - we will see.

"I have said all along that we can sit down and talk about doing a new deal but in football you never know. We haven't spoken yet, so we will see - nothing has changed."

Laursen is all too aware of the realities of a possible Bosman move.

He said: "I could sign with a foreign club, but not with an English club."

But he has admitted to a loyalty towards Villa who allowed him to spend a whole year in Bologna when he was recovering from career-saving knee surgery in the United States two seasons ago.

"I have been very pleased with Villa's support," he said.

"They have always given me good support - and I am fine here. I am playing, I feel good, I have a good relationship with the manager and everyone around the club."

Meanwhile Laursen says Villa paid the price for a succession of missed chances against Sunderland.

"It was one of those games where had our chances and they scored three

goals- but I still thought we did enough to get something out of the game.

"I know Muntari from Italy and he has a good left foot, definitely.

"I had missed two good chances then Gabby had a good chance.

"We have played well this season and we think we can do well. The fans have a lot of expectation and we would like to go as high as possible (in the table).

"That was an important game for us against a team who had the same amount of points as we had, so we are obviously disappointed with the result."

Laursen was keen to back the Villa fans after a section by the dug-out were criticised as "filth" by Harry Redkapp: "They have always given great support to us. I don't know anything about what went on", he said.