Ron Vlaar: Offered new deal by Aston Villa

Aston Villa have offered a new contract to Ron Vlaar, whose contract is up at the end of this month.

He has been linked with a host of clubs at home and abroad, including Manchester United. But Villa boss Tim Sherwood is hoping to keep the Dutch centre-back at the club.

Vlaar joined the club for a bargain £3.2m from Feyenoord in 2012. He had seemed certain to leave this summer but admitted after the FA CUp semi-final victory over Liverpool that the arrival of Sherwood has made him consider staying.

As well as United, Southampton and Arsenal are reportedly interested in the 30-year-old, who played for the Netherlands at the World Cup in Brazil last year.

Vlaar has made 88 appearances for Villa and captained the side before being replaced as skipper by Fabian Delph this season.