Agbonlahor to join O'Neill at Sunderland

Former Villa boss, Martin O'Neill, wants his favourite striker, Agbonlahor, to join him at Sunderland. Aston Villa has set an asking price of £12million for the 25-year old.

Aston Villa manager, Alex McLeish, however has issued a hands-off warning and hopes that the England international will stay at the club for a decade. McLeish said that "It would be hard for Gabby to leave the club. This is his club."

"I see him being here for the next ten years. I know how much he loves the club." Agbonlahor has been in the club from the age of 19. He is Villa's second highest goal scorer of all time in the Premier League with 53 goals. He is right behind Dwight Yorke who scored 60 goals, and looks certain to break his record if he remains at the club.

Martin O'Neill has always been an admirer of Agbonlahor and had once commented "He is capable of scoring 20 goals a season. His technique is good and he has improved a lot." The Sunderland boss is keen to bring Gabby to his team as they are inshort of quality in the attacking department. The current strikers Nicklas Bendtner will return to Arsenal after the season-long loan and Asamoah Gyan is keen on making his loan switch a permanent one at UAE club Al Ain.

Sunderland will have to cough up £12million if they want to land the player. Although the transfer fee looks less compared to what they paid for Darren Bent a year and a half ago, Agbonlahor has not been in great form lately. He has scored only eight goals in the last two seasons.