VILLA REBUFF ANGEL APPROACH
The 25-year-old Colombian international scored just once in ten games last season and suffered from personal problems off the pitch in a difficult first four months in England after his January switch from River Plate.
John Gregory though is confident that Angel, whose goals led River to the Apertura championship prior to his move to Villa Park, is confident that the striker's proven goalscoring ability will shine through next season.
"We have a lot of faith in Juan Pablo here at Villa Park and we're confident he'll make a real impact in the Premiership next season," Gregory said. "He's determined to prove his doubters wrong."
Villa director Mark Ansell explained to the official Aston Villa website that there was no firm bid from the Parisian outfit, just an approach from an agent.
"The facts of the matter are simple," Ansell said. "An agent approached us to say that PSG were interested in a player-swap deal for Juan Pablo.
"But we said categorically No. We're not going to sell a quality player who we've only just signed. Juan Pablo Angel is going nowhere.
"As ever with agents, it's always hard to tell whether they're trying to broker business or whether it's a real approach from a club."
Meanwhile, 'Magic Man' Merson - who has thrown his hat in the ring to replace Steve Harrison as first team coach at Villa - believes Sunderland striker Phillips is the man to become the Birmingham club's first twenty-goal-a-year striker since Dwight Yorke.
"I think we need a 20-goals-a-season man. Kevin Phillips would be the man for me," Merson said.
