Ipswich
have warned Aston Villa that there is no guarantee they
would accept a big-money bid for their captain, Matt
Holland.
Villa
boss Graham Taylor is believed to be lining up an
offer for the Republic of Ireland international after
making a personal check on Holland during Town's 2-0
win at Walsall last Saturday.
But Ipswich manager George Burley, while conceding
that the club would have to consider an offer, says
they would not necessarily accept it.
Burley said: "It is no secret that clubs who
get relegated into the First Division have to listen
to offers. But that does not mean you have to accept
them and I have said all along Matt is the last player
I want to lose.
"He is right behind the team and he has already
said he wants to stay at the club."
Taylor is keen to recruit at least one new midfielder
before Villa kick off the new season at home to Liverpool
on Sunday.
Villa's midfield department has been severely depleted
by the double departure of Paul Merson to Portsmouth
and George Boateng to Middlesbrough.
Taylor has also been strongly linked with a possible
£5m bid for Millwall midfielder Tim
Cahill and he does now have scope to add to the club's
wage bill after the departure of two of the main wage
earners.
