Bakke wants to extend Villa stay

Aston Villa’s on-loan Leeds midfielder Eirik Bakke has told David O’Leary he wants to remain with the midlands club for the remainder of the season.

Bakke’s cut loan agreement runs out at the end of January and Villa are trying to reach agreement with Leeds to extend the stay until May.

The Norway international has become an integral part of O’Leary’s plans after overcoming injury problems which blighted his past two seasons at Elland Road.

O’Leary said: “I’ve said to the club I want to keep him until the end of the season. I don’t know if other clubs are going to be looking at him.

“Eirik wants to stay. He’s been into my office and said he doesn’t want to go anywhere else for the rest of the season.

“I would say Leeds will wait until the very end of January to see if any offers come in for him but Eirik has told us he wants to stay here until the end of the season.”

O’Leary is putting any thoughts on whether Bakke could make a permanent switch to Villa in the summer on the back-burner for now.

He said: “Personally I think Eirik needs this season to get himself completely right. I think by the end of the season, if he goes along the same way, he’ll be a very attractive player for somebody to buy.

“I’m not even thinking about next season yet. I just want to secure him until the end of the season to be honest. I’ll be happy to do that for now.”

O’Leary, meanwhile. Has dismissed reports he could allow defender Ulises de la Cruz to leave on a free transfer during the January window.

The Ecuador international has made clear his desire to move for regular first-team football but Villa have yet to receive a bid for his services.

O’Leary said:: “Ulises has a contract here until the end of the season. He was brought here for £1.5m (€2.2m). He says he’d like to play football. We’re not standing in his way. We’ll consider offers when they come in.

“Why would I give him a free transfer now? He’s still got five months on his deal – half a season. We haven’t exactly got a great deal of numbers.”