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Aston Villa want to keep Fabian Delph and are hoping that no other Premier League clubs come in for him during the summer transfer window, according to new No. 2 Ray Wilkins Wilkins, who joined Tim Sherwood's coaching staff as assistant manager earlier this week, admits Villa have a battle on their hands to keep hold of the England midfielder, especially considering the fact that Delph is available for a reported fee of between £8-10 million due to a buyout clause in his contract. Delph, 25, only signed a new four-and-a-half-year deal last January and, with Liverpool and Manchester City interested in him, could yet depart Villa Park. "People talk about who you are bringing in but sometimes it is important who you are keeping hold of," Wilkins said in the Daily Mirror. "Fabian is top drawer as far as Aston Villa is concerned. "I sincerely hope all the teams out there who really want to take him on board don't come after him because it would be really nice to keep hold of him." Villa striker Christian Benteke also has a buyout clause -- £32.5m -- and Wilkins admits that uncertainty over the pair's future can be distracting. "It can be but I think you have to really look at the whole picture," he said. "It happens year in year out and you become accustomed to the situation. You don't necessarily like it but you have to get on the job in hand." The club had a poor season in the league, finishing just above the relegation spots in 17th despite reaching the FA Cup final which they lost to Arsenal. Sherwood is looking to rebuild and Wilkins added that Villa will be active in the transfer market, saying: "There is not as much money as the big boys but there certainly are funds."
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