Mellberg won't rule out move

Aston Villa captain Olof Mellberg has refused to rule out a future move away from the Barclaycard Premiership strugglers.

Mellberg is currently happy with life at Villa Park and was also recently voted Sweden’s Player of the Year.

The central defender has been one of the few plus points for Villa in the last season and a half where little has gone right.

He would be in demand from other leading clubs in England if he eventually decided to seek fresh pastures.

But for now Mellberg, currently in Cairo for Sweden’s friendly international with Egypt on Tuesday, is concentrating on helping Villa out of relegation trouble.

Mellberg said: “I’ve not really decided what I want to do in the future. I just hope I can stay fit. I have a goal to play well and give my best in every game – be it for the national team or Villa.

“Presently I am very happy with Aston Villa. But, as you know with professional footballers all over the world, things can change very quickly.

“One has got to be prepared for everything. I don’t want to set any long-term goals. I try to be as good as I can be in every game.

“For me right now, Aston Villa need to remain in the Premiership. That is the priority. We want to climb the table.”

Meanwhile, Villa manager David O’Leary is urging chief scout Ian Broomfield - a target for Chelsea – to stay with the West Midlands club.

O’Leary, who also worked with Broomfield at Leeds, said: “Chelsea have been after Ian for a while and it’s no surprise considering his pedigree.

“But I’ve told him that I want him here at Villa and that he will be better off sticking with me, Roy Aitken and Steve McGregor in the long run rather than earning good money at Chelsea.”