Martin O'Neill is planning contract talks with Wilfred Bouma and his representatives after confirming he is keen to agree a new deal.

The Dutch international's current deal ends in June, though Villa do have a one-year option. But O'Neill is looking to discuss a longer deal.

Bouma is one of only two players to have started every single Barclays Premier League match this season and has played a big part in Villa's march up the table.

He produced another impressive display in last weekend's 4-0 home win against Bolton and O'Neill told www.avfc.co.uk: "I thought his first-half performance on Saturday was really terrific, considering after a couple of minutes he let the ball run under his foot and then he sliced a clearance right across the goal.

"After that he settled down and for the next 25 minutes I thought he was absolutely outstanding. That's very pleasing.

"He's tried to work at his game and there are obviously things he'd still like to improve on, but overall he's done very well."

Looking to the future the Villa boss added: "We've got an option for another year, but I would want to be sitting down with Freddie and his agent and seeing about the possibility of even extending that further.

"We'll have to see. I'd like to see what's on Freddie's mind first of all; he might be absolutely and utterly fed-up with us! But in terms of this season, he's been ever present and that's terrific."