Sky Sports: American starlet Michael Bradley favours a move to Germany - his agent has confirmed to skysports.com. The Heerenveen midfielder has been strongly linked with a switch to the Premier League with Manchester United, Everton, Blackburn, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Sunderland amongst those to have scouted him in recent months. Scottish giants Celtic are also said to be keeping close tabs on him - whilst German outfits Werder Bremen and Stuttgart are keen. And although he would not rule out a move to England - his agent Kon Schramm confirmed a switch to the Bundesliga looked the most likely option. "He will probably make the move to Germany," Schramm told skysports.com.

Birmingham Mail: MARTIN O'Neill says Wilfred Bouma thoroughly deserves the two or three-year contract that will be coming his way at the end of the season. Bouma is set to complete an ever-present campaign and as a reward for his consistent performances O'Neill wants to get his future sorted. The Dutch international has already been notified Villa are taking up a one-year option on his contract. Further talks have now taken place with his agent at Bodymoor Heath and O'Neill has no doubt a deal will be agreed. "We are at least taking up the one-year option and want to extend that by at least another year," he said.

Birmingham Mail: MARTIN O'Neill has held pep-talks with Gareth Barry in an attempt to take the pressure off his skipper amid fevered speculation he is on his way to Liverpool. The Villa boss also revealed he has telephoned Anfield counterpart Rafa Benitez to register his dissaproval over the leaking of their player-plus-cash bid for their player. O'Neill revealed on Friday a fax involving a "mish-mash" of players was received from Liverpool on Thursday evening. Reports of a £10million bid were then leaked to a newspaper on Merseyside the following day. Barry is almost certainly on his way and it is believed a swop deal involving Peter Crouch and around £8million has all but been agreed. O'Neill has been concerned about Barry's well-being and believes his performance dipped as a result against Wigan. "He might have been affected by all the things that happened to him and I think that was a viewpoint I shared," said O'Neill.

Birmingham Mail: CRAIG Gardner's season is over as he has no chance of recovering from a thigh injury in time for Sunday's final match at West Ham. Gardner was injured while on England Under-21 duty at Molineux in March and has missed the last six matches. Villa manager Martin O'Neill initially registered his disappointment that Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce did not substitute the midfielder after he complained of being injured midway through the opening 45 minutes during the friendly with Poland. Gardner initially made the squad for the recent derby with Blues but suffered a setback. O'Neill said: "He has no chance for Sunday. He's been taken out of it altogether. "He wanted to come back earlier but Roddy McDonald, the club doctor, has decided we will take him out now so we are not rushing him back and we can get him ready for next season. "Considering he hasn't played since the England game on March 25 I could never have seen this at the time of the injury. "That's disappointing for us and particularly disappointing for the lad but we can't do anything about it."

Express and Star: Villa boss Martin O'Neill has confirmed Craig Gardner's season is over. The 21-year-old utility man suffered a thigh injury playing for the England under-21s at Molineux on March 25. Gardner was expected to be out for two to three weeks, but the full-back or midfielder tried to return too early and that only delayed his comeback. Now, with Villa ending their season at West Ham on Sunday, time has run out - O'Neill says the Yardley-born youngster has no chance of making it. "He has no chance for Sunday," said O'Neill. "He's been taken out of it altogether. He wanted to come back earlier - he'd play now - but Roddy McDonald [Villa club doctor] has decided we'll take him out now, so we're not rushing him back and we can get him ready for next season."

Express and Star: Wilfred Bouma is set to be rewarded with a new long-term contract to keep him at Villa. Manager Martin O'Neill wants to extend the 29-year-old Dutchman's deal beyond the 12-month option the club hold when the left-back's deal expires this summer. "The agent came here and I spoke to him and we're at least taking up the option for a year and we want to extend that further by at least a year," said O'Neill. "He's a good lad and we're in discussions at this minute." Bouma has been impressive this season and, injuries permitting, will complete his ever-present record for the Premier League in the final game at West Ham this Sunday. O'Neill praised the former PSV defender - a £3.5m arrival in August 2005 - for his consistency after niggling injuries prevented him making the same impact in the two previous seasons. "Wilfred is pretty happy here, and, with a bit of luck on Sunday, he'll complete his ever-present season and that's a big improvement on where he was before with injuries," added O'Neill. "Whatever contract we come up with, he will have deserved it. We're going to have some more discussions at the end of the season."

Sporting Life: Martin O'Neill has spoken of his intention to tie Wilfred Bouma to a long-term deal at Villa Park. The Dutch defender has established himself as O'Neill's first choice at left-back, enjoying an excellent campaign for the Uefa Cup hopefuls. Villa have a one-year option on his contract but it is expected the former PSV Eindhoven man will stay for longer. O'Neill has already engaged in discussions with the player's representatives and is eager to conclude terms for a two or three-year extension. "We are at least taking up the one-year option and want to extend that by at least another year," O'Neill told the Birmingham Mail. "We are in discussions and will be having more talks at the end of the season. "Wilfred is pretty happy here and with a bit of luck on Sunday he will complete his tally of games and that's a big improvement on where he was before with injuries. "Whatever contract we come up with, if it works out well he will have deserved it."

Setanta Sports: Stiliyan Petrov feels he can go from strength to strength for Aston Villa next season having been handed a more defensive role by Martin O'Neill in recent weeks. While O'Neill has barely put a foot wrong since arriving at Villa Park amidst a mighty fanfare, his former Celtic midfielder has often seemed to be grappling with life in The Premier League. Prolific for a midfielder during his days at Parkhead, Petrov has assumed a deeper position in recent weeks having endured a spell out of O'Neill's first-team plans. "I spoke with Nigel Reo-Coker and said I could play for another 15 years in that role because you don't move much," said the Bulgarian.