Aston Villa have got a much needed boost after going out of Europe with the news that Gabriel Agbonlahor wants to stay at the club.

The midlands club were dumped out of Europe by Rapid Vienna in mid-week, but this has not persuaded Agbonlahor to look elsewhere and the forward, despite being just 23, is already the club’s longest serving player.

And the England striker and local-born player has spelt out his willingness to stay at Villa on a long-term basis.

Agbonlahor said: “I saw in the programme stats the other day that I’m the longest-serving player.

“I think I am one of the senior statesmen! I might bring that up with some of the lads.

“But I’m a local lad and you look at people like Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.

“They don’t want to leave their clubs – and it’s the same with me. Being from the area, I’ve got no reason to ever leave.”

Aston Villa will try to bounce back from their European defeat when they play Everton in the Premier League on Sunday at Villa Park. Villa can be backed at 2.62 to get the win, with the draw at 3.25 and an Everton win 2.75.

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Barcelona have denounced the actions of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s agent and threatened to cut off relations with him amid talk of the hitman’s exit.

Agent Mino Raiola, who has done nothing to play down the possibility of Ibrahimovic leaving the Spanish champions after only one season, claimed coach Josep Guardiola had become an “enemy” of his client, suggesting the striker was being forced out of the club.

But Barca strongly rejected that version of events, and said their lawyers are now looking to void the contract they have with Raiola’s company.

“The executive committee of the FC Barcelona board of directors would like to publicly denounce the conduct over the last few days of the agent of our player Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sr Mino Raiola,whose declarations have put into question the honour and moral integrity of our coach Josep Guardiola,” said a club statement.

“These declarations have affected the relationship between the coach and the player and as a result the willingness of the player to fulfil his obligations. As such the declarations are a flagrant breach of the contract which Sr Raiola’s company have with the club for representation and management.

“Our legal department is therefore considering the possibility of rescinding this contract and the cessation of the annual payment Sr Raiola’s company receives from the club as part of this agreement.”

Wigan winger Charles N’Zogbia has revealed that the club will not stand in his way if a bigger club wants to acquire his services.

N’Zogbia joined Wigan in January 1999, when he angered fans of Newcastle by voicing his desire to play at a higher level.

And the 24-year-old is keen to take another step upwards in his footballing career.

“When I came here, I was in a period where I wanted to relaunch myself,” N’Zogbia told L’Equipe. “Today I’m at Wigan but if tomorrow a good club with great aims contacts me, I am open.

“I have talked about it with my bosses. They won’t put a spoke in the wheel.”

Despite their apparent willingness to sell Wigan will still hope to have N’Zogbia available for their first game of the season at home to Blackpool on 14th August.

Full Time Result betting has Wigan at 1.80, while Blackpool can be backed at 4.33 and the draw is 3.25.

Following the entire France World Cup squad being suspended for their friendly against Norway next month, N’Zogbia has been selected by new coach Laurent Blanc for the match.

Should he win his first cap, it would put an end to talk of him playing for England.

He continued: “They talked about me (playing for England) but for me it’s just something in the press.

“Until the moment someone at the Federation comes and talks to me about it face to face, I haven’t even asked myself the question.

“In my head I’m French. There’s no reflection to make.”

Wigan are 3.25 to be relegated from the Barclays Premier League 2010/11.

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