Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has revealed his desire for Olof Mellberg to sign a new contract.
O'Neill wants the Swedish international, currently in the last year of his existing deal, to put pen to paper before he is able to talk to foreign clubs in January. The Irishman has been impressed with Mellberg's form as a makeshift right-back.
O'Neill said: "The one contract I would like to get sorted out is Olof Mellberg. We are in the throes of doing that. Nothing has been agreed but we are in communication with his agent.
"Olof is playing out of position, although he has played there for his country before, and I am very pleased. He gives us a wee bit more solidity."
preferred position
Mellberg has insisted he has put his contract on the back burner with his focus on how matters are developing on the pitch for Villa.
O'Neill has recruited Zat Knight and Curtis Davies but has not ruled out the possibility of Mellberg again playing at the heart of the defence which is his preferred position.
He said: "Olof playing at centre-half again is a distinct possibility but he has done very well and has shown a bit of versatility which is good."
O'Neill keen on Mellberg deal
Carson eyes Europe
Scott Carson has called on Aston Villa to become the surprise team of the Barclays Premier League season.
The on-loan Liverpool goalkeeper wants Villa to ensure their superb win over Chelsea was not a one-off result and emulate the example of Blackburn Rovers, who have qualified for this season's UEFA Cup competition via the Intertoto Cup after a consistent campaign last year.
Carson, back from his spell as England number three for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia, insists Martin O'Neill's side should not settle for a mid-table slot.
another step
But he knows the importance of building on the euphoria that surrounded the performance against Chelsea when they visit Manchester City on Sunday for their next league clash.
"We've got to look to Europe," said Carson. "We've been solid at the back so far and have kept a couple of clean sheets which is pleasing.
"We took another step in the right direction against Chelsea but you've got to carry it on. We've got to continue things on against the teams around us in the table. I think the lads have got to look at Europe. There is no point in settling for 10th, 11th or whatever. We've got to look to the next step like Blackburn did last season."
Sorensen denies Villa exit report
Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen denies he is seeking a move from Aston Villa and has vowed to fight for a first-team place.
Denmark international Sorensen, 31, has lost his number one spot to on-loan Liverpool keeper Scott Carson.
Sorensen reacted to reports surrounding his future, saying: "These stories make me look like I've given up and I'm not willing to fight for my place.
"I've not been fit, so I couldn't give the manager a choice. Now I'm fit and want to give him a selection problem."
Sorensen joined Villa from Sunderland in August 2003 for £2.5m and has one more year left on his contract.
He said: "I've said all along to everyone at Aston Villa that I'm here to fight for my place.
"I'm well aware of the situation. Scott has done well but I have to work hard and wait for my chance. That has been the bottom line.
"When the chance comes, hopefully I'll show what I can do. The most important thing is playing first-team football, that's no secret.
"But I'm not looking to leave the club to do that. That has never been my intention.
"I've got one year left on my deal and, obviously, if we get to next year and I'm still not playing, I would have to look at different alternatives.
"At the moment I'm fully committed to the club and I want to fight for my place. I want to push Scott all the way and that is what I'm determined to do."
Davies ready for bow
Curtis Davies says he is ready to make his Aston Villa debut after overcoming a hamstring injury.
The defender sat out Villa's last game against Chelsea with the problem but will challenge Martin Laursen and Zat Knight for a place against Manchester City on Sunday.
But Davies, who joined Martin O'Neill's side on a season-long loan from West Bromwich Albion, knows he faces tough competition to start.
"My fitness is good now," Davies told the club's official website. "I was worked like a dog when I had my hamstring problem, but that's what I needed so that when I did join the rest of the lads I was ready to compete.
was coming
"I'm definitely ready if the manager needs me for Sunday. The first weekend I came I told him I'd be ready if he needed me, but the smart decision was to give me the break knowing that the international break was coming up.
"Now I'm fit, and as long as I'm in training, I feel that I can do a job for the gaffer. So if he wants to pick me, I'm ready to take someone's place. I've always been a regular wherever I've been, but this is the time now when I need to earn it a bit more. Hopefully if and when I get my chance, I won't let anyone take my place."
O'Neill is in no rush to throw Davies into the fold and may stick with Laursen and Knight, who started the 2-0 win over Chelsea, at centre-back at Eastlands.
"We have to ease him into it," said the Villa manager. "He's been out for some time and the last thing we want to do is over-stretch him. But he's on his way back. He's feeling pretty good and obviously he's desperate to get started. But I'm looking at things in the long-term, rather than one game coming up on Sunday."
Laursen lined up for new contract
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is keen to open talks with defender Martin Laursen about a potential new contract.
The 30-year-old Danish international is in the final year of his current deal and is set to begin negotiations after next week's Euro 2008 qualifiers.
"If Martin was 22 with that sort of attitude you'd be looking at giving him 10 years," he told Villa's website.
"He's proving himself here and I've got absolutely no problems sitting down and discussing the future with him."
