Ashley Young's big hint on Villa exit
Ashley Young has suggested his future may lie away from Villa after revealing his desire to win a major trophy during the peak years of his career.
Ashley Young has suggested his future may lie away from Villa after revealing his desire to win a major trophy during the peak years of his career.
Speculation has intensified in the past few days that the England international, who is out of contract in the summer of 2012, could be on his way to Liverpool at the end of the season.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, who has had Young watched several times, was yesterday handed a three-year contract by Reds owner John Henry and will now concentrate his efforts on landing the winger.
Now Young has dropped the biggest hint yet that he will be leaving when the transfer window re-opens.
He said: "I'm an ambitious person that wants to win titles and leagues and cups. Hopefully 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. "
Privately, Villa are resigned to losing Young but they will drive a hard bargain for a player who cost them £9.75million from Watford in January 2007 and will hold out for a fee in the region of £18million.
The blow of his potential departure has been cushioned by news that Stewart Downing is set to agree a new contract with the club.
And Young believes there is no question that Downing has been Villa's player of the season and was fully deserving of the accolades he received at the club's awards night.
Young added: "Stewart has been fantastic for us. He's been brilliant."