MX23RW : Friday, November 8 01:06:48| >> :120:8326:8326:

Paul Lambert expecting to keep Ron Vlaar at Villa Park

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert says that Ron Vlaar is staying at Villa Park amid speculation linking him to Southampton.

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert is confident that he can retain the services of defender Ron Vlaar beyond the summer.

The Dutchman returned from the World Cup in Brazil with a heightened reputation after helping the Netherlands to a third-place finish in the tournament.

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman has reportedly identified the 29-year-old as an ideal replacement for Dejan Lovren, but Lambert expects that his skipper - whose contract expires next summer - will stay at Villa Park.

"To be fair to Ron, he has not come to us or anything," he told reporters.

"We have had little chats here and there, but I think his main concern was getting back after the World Cup, getting fit and hopefully being ready for Saturday.

"That is where he has been. I have a good rapport with Ron, so I don't have any problem with that whatsoever."

Villa kick off their Premier League campaign with a trip to Stoke City on Saturday.

ID:171169: cacheID:171169:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2086:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert and assistant Roy Keane look on during the pre-season friendly match between Mansfield and Aston Villa at the One Call Stadium on July 17, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: Stoke vs. Villa
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Bengals
@
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!