Aston Villa launches bid for Belhanda

Montpellier president Louis Nicollin says Aston Villa are one of five clubs to have made a bid for creative midfielder Younes Belhanda.



The highly-rated Moroccan international has admitted he would like to move to England, and had been strongly linked with Arsenal and Tottenham in the past.



But Nicollin has now revealed that Villa are currently the only bidders from the English top flight for Belhanda, who is set to leave the Ligue 1 outfit a year after helping them lift the title. "He is leaving," Nicollin told LeSport10.



"There are four or five clubs that have come in. It is now down to the player to choose now because we are almost in agreement with the clubs. He will leave for 14-15 million euros." Asked if the offers were concrete, he replied: "Yes.



From AC Milan, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray and Aston Villa. "We have no problem now, he [Belhanda] has the authority to agree with whoever he wants now.



"Villa already have Belhanda's Moroccan international teammate Karim Al Ahmadi on their books and Paul Lambert is looking to add a creative spark to his side to play behind the striker.

Benteke warns Villa

Christian Benteke insists he will leave Aston Villa if one of the Premier League's top clubs wants to sign him.

Benteke was one of the stars of the Premier League season, scoring 19 goals to help keep Villa in the top flight.

The Belgium international, 22, has been linked with a move to Arsenal, amongst others, and although he is under contract at Villa Park he says he "won't necessarily accept" it if they say cannot leave.

Quoted by the Sun, Benteke said:

"If Aston Villa say I must stay, I won't necessarily accept that. I do not in any way want to feel I didn't get the most out of my career. I try to get everything.

"Of course playing the World Cup in Rio is in my head. But I have no fear of falling out of the team. There is no point in me getting into a tug-of-war with Villa.

"If the chance comes up for me to join a club like Arsenal, I'm convinced we can reach a compromise where everyone comes out a winner."

Paul Lambert: Fans are pushing Aston Villa towards survival

Paul Lambert says the special relationship between Aston Villa's players and supporters is helping his side to safety.



The manager was struck by the "extraordinary" backing from Villa's crowd during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Fulham - a result which took them three points clear of third-bottom Wigan.



And Lambert reckons the fans will deserve a share of the credit if another season of Premier League football is secured in the remaining five games.



He told the club website: "That we have remained so vibrant and assertive into the second half of the season - and now into the latter stages - is in no small measure down to the fans.



"You can always judge a game and a performance by the reactions and involvement of the crowd and the synergy between fans and the team has become a defining feature of this season.



"There's a bond there which has only grown closer and intimate over the course of a campaign in which there is still important business to do and achieve before we can look too far forward into the future.



"There is a long way to go for all of us and the focus has to remain on the next game.



"We want to keep building on the foundations we've now laid down. Everything is in our own hands and we've enhanced our position over recent weeks. The fans have been fantastic, right behind us the whole way.



"The support against Fulham was extraordinary. They have been right behind us from day one. There have had some down times over the Christmas period but they kept with it, which was fantastic for us.



"We're playing well and the mindset and mood at the club is really positive. The point against Fulham keeps the momentum there. It keeps us going."

Lambert: Star duo stay at Aston Villa

Paul Lambert insists in-form Aston Villa strike duo Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann will remain with the club next season.

Lambert knows keeping hold of the pair and other key players is vital as part of his long-term project to rebuild Villa - and he has the backing of club owner Randy Lerner.



It will be a reversal of Villa's trend in recent seasons of selling leading performers such as Gareth Barry, James Milner, Stewart Downing and Ashley Young.



Benteke has scored 17 goals since his £8million move last summer from Genk and the Belgium international has been linked with a host of clubs.



Weimann has netted 11 goals in his first full campaign of top-flight football and has been offered a new deal by Villa.



Lambert said: "Do I think Weimann and Benteke will be at Villa next season? Yes, yes. I think they want to be here. I've spoken to the lads as well and they've been great with it.



"There is no point in trying to build something if it (players) keep on going away.



"There is no point in coming in for one year and, after that, the lads go away again. I don't think that is building for any sort of future.



"Do I have the final say on it? Oh yes. I've got to - but Randy (Lerner) has been great with me.



"Everyone knows the situation. If players do well, then teams speak about them. Everyone knows the situation. Whether it is true or not or agents fabricate things remains to be seen.



"When I first came in here, we sat down and explained what I thought. Randy was right behind it, no problem at all.



"He has been excellent with us. There is no point in building something, if a year later it (a player) goes. I don't want to go back to square one."



Weimann has only 15 months remaining of his current contract.



Lambert said: "I spoke to Andy's agent a couple of months back.



"I know what is happening and Andy knows what is happening.



"His agent knows what is going on. There is no problem at the minute. Am I confident Andy will sign? Yes."



Lambert hinted Benteke may also be offered a new deal this summer after his successful debut season.



He said: "I might give him a fiver more. Being Scottish, that is generous!



"I think you do that (reward players) with most lads who are performing well for you.



"You just don't want people to become comfortable or lose that hunger. I don't want a monetary thing to over-rule success."

Agbonlahor secures Villa win

Aston Villa climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone thanks to a 2-1 victory against fellow strugglers Reading at the Madejski Stadium.



They had to come from behind to secure the points though after they gifted the Berkshire side the lead after 32 minutes with a calamitous own goal from Nathan Baker as he sliced in Jobi McAnuff's cross.

But, just a minute later, Christian Benteke levelled from close range before Gabby Agbonlahor scored the winning goal on the stroke of half-time with a rasping left-foot drive.

During the week Reading boss Brian McDermott called for his side to make a fast start and they threatened twice inside the first five minutes. Adam Le Fondre forced Brad Guzan to claw a header away after he peeled off his marker at the back post before delivering a cross that an unmarked Hal Robson-Kanu mis-controlled.

Villa full-back Matt Lowton was shown a yellow card for a late challenge on McAnuff, but for all Reading's early promise they almost fell behind on 12 minutes when Benteke rattled the crossbar with a header.

Reading's opener on 32 minutes will be consigned to the blooper reel as Baker was left red-faced by his bumbling generosity. There appeared little danger, despite Hope Akpan helping McAnuff's low cross on, but defending close to his line Baker horribly rushed his clearance. It meant he completely missed the ball and watched on as it bounced off his standing leg and over the line.

Reading's lead lasted barely two minutes though as they showed why they have conceded more goals than any other club in the top flight this term.

The industrious Andreas Weimann was given acres of space down the right but instead of marking Benteke the home defenders rushed to the goal-line. The Belgian astutely sat back for the pass and lashed in a shot that took a deflection off Stephen Kelly to ensure Stuart Taylor was beaten.

It got worse for the Royals, however, as they conceded in first-half injury time for the second successive game at home.

Again the goal looked preventable as first Kelly failed to properly clear following a patient build-up by Villa. Lowton headed the ball across the six-yard box and while Barry Bannan's deft touch rebounded off the post Taylor could only help the loose ball to Agbonlahor to thump home.

Reading thought they were level 10 minutes after the re-start only for a marginal offside call to go against them. Noel Hunt poked home at close range but if he was not offside Le Fondre, who was just in front of him, appeared to have just strayed.

Reading kept pushing, with six of their past seven league goals having come after the 84th minute, but there was no late rally on this occasion as Robson-Kanu wasted the best of their late chances.



Victory was just Villa's second in their past 12 league games and moved them three points clear of danger. Reading's defeat - their second in succession at home against a relegation rival after they lost 3-0 to Wigan a fortnight ago - left them above last-placed QPR on goals scored only.