Aston Villa

Ashley Young Is Worth £75m To Aston Villa - O'Neill

Villa's wing wonder is worth three and a half Fernando Torreses, according to MON...

Jan 4, 2009 3:12:49 AM

Ashley Young celebrates with manager Martin O'Neill after scoring the 94th minute winner against Everton.

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Ashley Young celebrates with manager Martin O'Neill after scoring the 94th minute winner against Everton.

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Ashley Young

When Aston Villa paid Watford £9 million for Ashley Young two years ago, pundits far and wide questioned their decision to spend so much on a relatively unporven youngster.

Now, the Birmingham club are benifitting hugely from their risky business as the 23-year-old has become one of the most dangerous attackers in the entire Premier League.

Martin O'Neill, the Villa manager, said in the News of the World: “If I thought eventually a player was going to be worth it then I might pay over the odds.

“But I would have preferred to pay £5m for Ashley at the time ... the fact that he’s worth 15 times that now is immaterial.”

Do the math, and that comes to £75 million - a valuation which could be enough to scare off even Real Madrid, who have been heavily linked with Young.

However, when O'Neill added up the numbers, he chuckled and told the press: “Go with it, go with it! But I know if he reads it, he’ll be in to see me!”

Thus, if los Merengues wade in with a €60 million bid at some point in the future, don't expect Villa to snub it outright.

Mike Maguire, Goal.com