Portsmouth warn Aston Villa: Distin is going nowhere

Jul 22 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

Aston Villa have been warned that Sylvain Distin is not for sale after Portsmouth confirmed they had rejected an undisclosed offer from an unnamed club for the defender.

Martin O’Neill is a known admirer of Distin and has earmarked the French centre-half as a potential replacement for Martin Laursen following his retirement.

Villa have been waiting patiently to do business with the Fratton Park club during the uncertainty surrounding Sulaiman Al Fahim’s protracted take-over.

But now that the United Arab Emirates-based businessman has been installed as chairman, Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie has made clear their position on Distin’s future.

“We’ve only ever had one bid for Sylvain which we turned down,” said Storrie.

“We don’t want to sell him and we’re not interested in any bids for him.

“We want players to stay at this football club and any interest in him is unwelcome.”

Paul Hart, who was given the Pompey manager’s job on a permanent basis yesterday, handed Distin the captain’s armband for last night’s friendly at Havant and Waterlooville.

While Peter Crouch was conspicuous by his absence from the 2-2 draw as he negotiates a move to Tottenham or Fulham, Distin played the first half before being rested at the interval.

However, O’Neill is unlikely to be deterred by Pompey’s stance and a move could still go ahead if Distin forces the issue by handing in a transfer request.

Luke Young has emerged as an injury doubt for Villa’s Peace Cup opener against Malaga on Saturday with a thigh strain but the right-back will still travel to Spain.

The problem kept the former Middlesbrough defender out of Saturday’s win at Peterborough and he also missed last night’s draw at Colchester.

O’Neill insists the injury is not too serious and that Young, who ended last season with a foot problem, could be fit for next Wednesday’s second Peace Cup group game against Mexican side Atlante.

“He has a problem with the top of his thigh,” said O’Neill.

“I thought he would be fit. He did a wee bit on Monday morning, felt it again. I don’t think it is anything to be overly concerned about.

“Certainly the medical staff are not overly concerned. He may not be fit for Saturday evening but he will have every possibility for the second game.

“He will definitely be coming with us.”

O’Neill also confirmed that his senior international contingent would be on Thursday’s flight to Spain after returning to training following an extended break.

“Some of the boys who have been involved in international matches like John Carew, Emile Heskey, Ashley Young, Stiliyan Petrov and Moustapha Salifou have all trained the last few days and are travelling with us,” he added.

“They are coming with us and we will see what shape they are in by Saturday evening. Brad Guzan will be back in on Wednesday morning.”