Villa warn rivals over Gardner

Wolves, Blues and Championship side Middlesbrough are thought to be keeping tabs on the midfielder, who captained England's Under-21s in Monday's draw with Germany, although Villa are yet to receive any bids for the young star.

But Villa sources have confirmed to the Express & Star that Martin O'Neill is keen to keep hold of the versatile 22-year-old.

Home-grown Villa fan Gardner, who is under contract until 2012, has been widely tipped to leave Villa Park this summer after making just two Premier League starts last term.

He also regularly found himself played out of position at right-back, or on the right side of midfield.

But the Solihull-born star publicly declared he was "happy" at the club a fortnight ago and it is understood the player has made no attempts to seek a move.

And Gareth Barry's £12million departure to Manchester City has left a void in the centre of Villa's midfield, so Gardner currently finds himself competing with Steve Sidwell and Nigel Reo-Coker for the slot alongside Stiliyan Petrov.

O'Neill is expected to bring in a replacement for Barry with Tottenham trio David Bentley, Tom Huddlestone and Jermaine Jenas all linked with moves to the Midlands.

But it is understood the Villa manager's top priority is finding a replacement for retired skipper Martin Laursen.

Portsmouth's Sylvain Distin, Fulham's Brede Hangeland, Boro's David Wheater and Everton's Joleon Lescott are among the centre-backs recently touted as possible signings.

Yet further departures are still a possibility – the futures of Nigel Reo-Coker, Zat Knight, Nicky Shorey, Marlon Harewood and Isaiah Osbourne are up in the air.

But, with the squad looking stretched, arrivals are expected before exits.