Villa duo open contract talks

Aston Villa have opened talks aimed at persuading Ulises de la Cruz and Thomas Hitzlsperger to sign new contracts.

De la Cruz’s current deal runs out in the summer while Hitzlsperger has only 12 months remaining on his contract.

O’Leary said: “Ulises’ agent is going to see the chairman and the good news is that progress is being made and I want him to stay.

“Thomas’ agent is also due in for talks, although I’m not sure when, but the initial approach has been made.”

O’Leary is keen to tie up the key members of his squad on long term deals with 21-goal leading scorer Juan Pablo Angel and midfielder Gareth Barry already having talks.

O’Leary said: “I think the chairman has had good meetings with them both. Now it’s up to the pair of them to come back in or wait to see what package the club are offering.

“We will keep our fingers crossed that everything can be sorted out as quickly as possible.”

Meanwhile O’Leary has dismissed newspaper reports linking him with a move for his former Leeds midfielder Lee Bowyer who is currently with Newcastle.

Bowyer, signed for Leeds by Howard Wilkinson in 1996, flourished under O’Leary and played a major part in their sudden rise up the footballing ladder.

But the Villa chief insisted: “The speculation is total rubbish. Lee is an excellent player but I’ve got Lee Hendrie and Nobby Solano for that role. Those two have done great for me so there’s just nothing to it.”