McAllister battling to keep Ashley Young
Monday 23rd May 2011, 11:13AM BST.
Gary McAllister today confirmed Villa will make a last-ditch bid to try to persuade Ashley Young to sign a new contract at the club.
The winger has just over 12 months left on his current deal but it looks increasingly likely he will leave to further his ambitions elsewhere.
Young was substituted in the 89th minute of Villa’s 1-0 win over Liverpool and left the field to a standing ovation, but McAllister insisted it was not to give the player a platform to bid farewell to the crowd and the club have not thrown in the towel on trying to persuade him to stay.
“I think people were thinking that was staged but he said his calf was screaming and he came off. It wasn’t a case of him coming off and waving goodbye,” said the Villa assistant boss.
“We’re still going to try to keep him. Maybe a couple of signings here and there might help.”
McAllister admitted that Villa’s rebuilding process is already under way and that he and manager Gerard Houllier have already targeted players.
“A list of targets has been given to the chief executive and chairman,” he said.
UK Sport
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