Randy Lerner will try to convince Young to stay with VILLA
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Lerner drive to keep Ashley
DECISION ... Ashley YoungASTON VILLA owner Randy Lerner has held personal talks with Ashley Young to try and convince the winger to stay at the club.
England star Young is a target for Manchester United in the summer — as SunSport revealed on Friday.
But Villa are desperate to hang on to their star man, who will have only one year left on his contract when the season ends.
Young, 26, has put off talks over a new deal at Villa Park until the summer, despite the club offering him a £500,000-a-year pay rise before Christmas.
American-based Lerner leaves the day-to-day running of the club to chief executive Paul Faulkner.
But he responded to desperate calls from fans to move to keep Young.
In the unusual but admirable step, the chairman stepped in to tell Young he and the club still mean business.
Young wants Champions League football and the chance to challenge for trophies but it is understood Lerner attempted to persuade the player that Villa want to match his ambitions.
His performances under boss Gerard Houllier, despite the club's precarious league position, have seen Young become a key member of the England squad.
The club are still fully behind Houllier and believe he can move the club back in the right direction beyond the summer - as long as relegation is avoided.
Houllier thinks his £24million January signing Darren Bent is vital to beating the drop after two more goals in the draw at Everton.
He said: "He will score goals for us - we know that. Sometimes he looks quiet but he is like a fox in the box.