The Germans are coming for our Milan Baros

Aston Villa today confirmed that German outfit Hamburg have made a preliminary approach for striker Milan Baros.

Only a few weeks ago we were told he wasn't going anywhere and that there was a clause in his contract that meant a 'significant offer' would have to be made.

Today Doug Ellis is telling us today "It's true to say we've had a preliminary call from Hamburg, but nothing more than that.

"Milan has got two years left on his contract and his agent has assured us that despite the interest from Germany, he's happy at Aston Villa and is not looking to leave."

Now, Baros didn't have the best first season with us but that was mainly down to the number of games he played and our manager. All that aside I'm not seeing what I want to see from Aston Villa.

What I'd like to see rather than messages through agents and our chairman is a club statement saying Milan Baros will be an Aston Villa player next season because he has a contract and made a commitment to play for us; this smells too much of an agent setting up a deal.

Players like Milan Baros are needed if this club is to move in the right direction. However, saying that, if David O'Leary is to stay at the club next season you might as well sell him and anyone else with talent as O'Leary is quite possibly the best manager in the league at taking players and clubs backwards.