Olof Mellberg has outlined his desire to remain at Aston Villa and be part of the Martin O'Neill-Randy Lerner revolution that drives the club into Europe.

The Swede, who has one year left on his contract, revealed that while talks have opened between himself and O'Neill, they will sit down and begin serious negotiations at the end of the season.

With Villa's campaign due to end against Bolton Wanderers on May 13, the two parties will look to formalise an agreement before the 29-year-old joins up with the Swedish national team. And as player and manager are both making positive noises, it is hoped Mellberg's medium-term future will be sorted out by the start of the 2007-8 season.

A big factor behind the former Racing Santander defender's commitment to Villa is the fact that Lerner, the owner, and O'Neill, the manager, appear to be moving the club towards a return to continental football.

Villa have not played in Europe since Mellberg's first season in 2001; even then, they had to qualify through the InterToto Cup. It is a record the centre back is anxious to rectify.

"There are a lot of positive things going on within the club. I hope the club can really challenge for Europe now and I'd like to be part of that," Mellberg said. "I've still got a year left on my contract and at the moment that is my focus and then we will see what happens in the next few weeks.

"We have talked a little and the manager has expressed the view that he would like me to stay in the club for longer than that year and we haven't got any further than that.

"I have expressed that I am happy at the club and that the club has a positive future. We will just have to see what happens in the next few weeks."

Mellberg admits that at this stage of his career, his next contract is likely to be his last lengthy deal and he is having to balance that fact with the desire to have medals, to win trophies and have something tangible to show for his time in England.

Nevertheless, he feels both aims can be fulfilled at Villa: "That is something you have to feel yourself and if you are happy at a club and doing well and you think a club has a positive future, that's all you can do.

"I don't really know what is going to happen in the summer, but it feels at the moment as if there is a positive atmosphere within the whole club.

"At the moment it is just important to finish well. Whatever happens in the summer will be important."

One man who won't remain beyond the summer is Jlloyd Samuel, who has admitted he is set to leave after failing to convince O'Neill of his worth.

"I just want a fresh start now," he said. "I thought I would have been given more chances. Martin has this great reputation as a great man-manager and manager, but if anyone asks me how good he is I won't be able to answer because I haven't been given a chance to work with him."

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