Cleverley too costly for Villa
ASTON VILLA’S £7million move for Manchester United’s Tom Cleverley could collapse because they cannot afford the midfielder’s wages.
Owner Randy Lerner has given manager Paul Lambert permission to make an offer, even though the club is up for sale.
Hull and Villa are understood to have had their bids accepted by United, with Everton and Valencia also interested, and it is up to Cleverley to decide where to go.
He is thought to be earning £70,000 a week and that would be too much for Lerner to sanction. Everton and Valencia are both, however, willing to meet his demands.
Lerner has fought a two-year battle to bring costs down and is not keen on seeing his players’ wage bill spiral as he tries to find a buyer for the club.
If Cleverley did go to Villa it would put Fabian Delph’s future in doubt. Delph has just broken into the England squad and is highly regarded by Lambert, but is in the last year of his contract.
There have not been contract talks with Delph while the club is waiting to be sold, but Lambert said: “As soon as a player gets picked for England, things escalate. We will have to sit down and see what he thinks.” Lambert also wants to keep one of his highest earners, Darren Bent. Villa’s record signing at £24m had been unwanted until a few weeks ago but will not be allowed to leave the club.
He was banished to the youth team and sent out on loan for two years, but Lambert has changed his views.
“I spoke to Bent a few weeks ago and his pre-season has been excellent,” he said, ahead of tomorrow’s home game with Hull.
“Darren has real character and I back him to be here at the end of the window.”