O'Neill - Young now worth £30m

Villa boss delighted with winger's progress

Last updated: 22nd August 2008

Young Ashley

Young: Priceless for Villa

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Martin O'Neill believes that Ashley Young has tripled in value during the 18 months he has spent at Aston Villa.

The winger cost Villa a total of almost £10million from Watford in January 2007 and has impressed hugely during his time in the Midlands.

He has also made his senior debut for England and is in line for a new contract, with O'Neill valuing Young in the £30million bracket.

"Ashley is now worth three times what we paid for him," said O'Neill.

Priceless

"I am inclined to exaggerate, but he is priceless. He is absolutely outstanding.

"I've already said I was surprised he was not in the England squad for the midweek game (with the Czech Republic), but his time will come, no question of that. He is absolutely outstanding.

"Actually, I had better not shout out how much I think he is worth because we are in the throes of doing a new contract with him. I actually think he is worth £4million! His value has plummeted until we have got the contract sorted!

"In all seriousness, I would like to try and do that contract in the next week or two. Are we that close - yes?"

Natural

O'Neill conceded: "I still think at the time I would have preferred to have paid £5million rather than the initial £8.2million for Ashley. You had to take a gulp. It kept going up.

"But he has shown his worth. He relishes the free role we give him and his delivery of crosses, emphasised by the one headed home by John Carew for the first goal against Manchester City, is superb.

"He is a natural and we see him do that sort of thing on the training ground time and time again."