ASHLEY Young has dropped his strongest hint yet he will leave Villa in the summer after warning he wants to win “titles, leagues and cups” as he reaches his peak.

Although Gerard Houllier has not given up hope of holding on to Young, Villa are bracing themselves for a scramble for his signature at the end of the season.

Liverpool and Manchester United are believed to be preparing bids for Young even though Villa are still to be contacted directly about the England star. Young has continued to dismiss speculation about his future and maintained he will consider Villa’s bumper contract offer at the end of this campaign.

But the 25-year-old winger-cum-striker has underlined his ambitions by revealing his desire to win medals soon as he approaches the peak of his career.

“Obviously, I want to be able to do well myself, do well for the club and get them higher than we are at the moment,” said Young.

“Fingers crossed I can continue not to be injured, keep going, keep doing what I’ve been doing and see it right through to the end of the season.

“I’m an ambitious person who wants to win titles and leagues and cups and stuff. Hopefully, fingers crossed, I can do that.

“I think they say that players start to peak at 26 or 27 and I’m soon to be 26 so fingers crossed I can start peaking myself.

“I’ve been enjoying how things have been going for me.”

Young has just over a year left on his contract and manager Gerard Houllier has previously admitted Villa would be prepared to lose him for nothing next summer.

But after seeing Gareth Barry and James Milner leave in successive close seasons, Villa could also be forced to accept Young’s departure.

If he does force the issue and ask to leave then Villa are likely to hold out for a £20 million transfer fee to reinvest in their summer team rebuilding.

Villa are making ongoing efforts to persuade Young to stay and, even if approaches are imminent, do not intend to respond to rival suitors before the transfer window reopens.