O'Leary warns Newcastle off Mellberg

[andy villa]

David O'Leary has warned off his Newcastle counterpart Sir Bobby Robson about making a summer bid for Aston Villa skipper Olof Mellberg.

Mellberg is believed to have captured the attention of the Robson. But O'Leary has made it clear that Mellberg is not going anywhere as he views the Swedish international as a key player for Villa's future.

O'Leary, who made Mellberg the Villa skipper after initially dropping him for the opening game of the season at Portsmouth, said "If you want to move forward then you want to keep your better players.

"To me, Olly has become a better person to the one I picked up at the start of the season.

"He is a far better captain now and it is not just a case of leading the team out and flicking the ball in the air."

Mellberg has two years left on his contract at Villa Park and has recently hinted that he would be willing to hammer out an extension.

With Ronny Johnsen coming to the end of his deal this summer and doubts persisting about whether he will be handed a new contract, Mellberg could well be the only senior central half Villa have on the books at the end of the campaign.


hed bloody better not let him go......

[kennethlindheim]

can't see it happen.

[andy villa]

i hope not....