Soccer: Villa stand firm on Southgate asking price

Aston Villa have warned unsettled central defender Gareth Southgate that they will not lower their asking price.

Villa want £8m for transfer-seeking Southgate and he has labelled any demand over £6m "unreasonable."

But Villa's finance director Mark Ansell said: "We still haven't received any bids, even though Gareth Southgate's position has been re-emphasised in public over the last few weeks.

"If clubs are serious about him they should make a bid."

Villa have also taken in their stride speculation that England defender Southgate, who still has two years to run on his contract, might be unwilling to play in this summer's Intertoto Cup.

Should he play for Villa in that competition it would make him cup-tied and could put off potential bidders.

But Ansell added: "The Intertoto Cup is still six weeks away, so talk of what might or might not happen is premature."