Valencia keen to keep Villa

Villa: Top target

Valencia coach Unai Emery has expressed his intention to retain the services of David Villa.

The Spain international striker has begun Euro 2008 in electric style, scoring a hat-trick in a comfortable 4-1 victory over Russia on Tuesday.

He has long been regarded as one of Europe's top attacking talents, with a number of clubs believed to be circling the Mestalla ready to pounce.

With Los Che currently suffering with severe financial difficulties it been expected that the time had come for the 26-year-old to take his considerable talent elsewhere.

However, the Primera Liga club's chairman Juan Sanchez has already expressed his willingness to keep both Villa and his international team-mate David Silva in Valencia, while Emery has now reiterated that desire.

Continuity

"This player is not on the market," he told Las Provincias.

"I have demanded continuity in regards to Villa and Silva and I am confident that I will get it.

"The club have made it clear that the pair are not for sale.

"They are key to my plans for the future and there absence would be a problem.

"It is normal that the big European clubs are interested in Villa, but we are determined to fight to keep him in Valencia."