Laursen agrees new deal at Villa Park

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The Denmark international will formally put pen to paper tomorrow on a deal which will keep him at Villa Park until the end of the 2009-2010 season.

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High flier: Martin Laursen is staying at Villa

Thirty-year-old Laursen was out of contract in the summer but has consistently stated that he was happy to remain at Villa.

He moved from AC Milan for £3million in 2004 and his first three years at Villa were dogged by knee problems.

But during the current campaign Laursen has been an ever-present and also weighed in with six Barclays Premier League goals.

Villa manager Martin O'Neill said: "Everyone at Aston Villa is absolutely delighted that Martin is staying on for another two and a half years.

"He has become a firm favourite with the fans and I would think they are as pleased as we are that he is staying.

"Martin has been playing some wonderful football and he deserves everything he gets.

"He has shown great determination and the way he has overcome a serious injury is a lesson to everyone.

"He has removed the doubts over his fitness by playing regularly this season. I am delighted, and so is everyone at the club, that he is staying."

Laursen said: "It is not a secret that I really like it here at Villa. I have been saying all along that I would like to stay at Villa and I am glad this has all been agreed.

"I feel settled outside the pitch as well. I really enjoy staying here and have a good relationship with the manager and everyone around the club.

"I think we have a very good team and I want to play my part in helping Villa progress."

Meanwhile, O'Neill has distanced himself from reports that he held talks on Wednesday with Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe.

O'Neill is an admirer of Defoe and would be happy if Villa could secure the services of the £10million-rated player.

But the Villa boss was not even at Bodymoor Heath on Wednesday and instead watched the youth team in FA Youth Cup action at Colchester.