Manager admits he is powerless to prevent move.
Arsenal and Liverpool may have received a major boost in their bid to sign Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph, with the Birmingham Mail reporting that manager Paul Lambert admits he is powerless to prevent the player leaving.
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The 25-year-old has been in fine form for Villa this season and is attracting plenty of interest as he nears the end of his contract, with a cut-price move looking possible in the upcoming January transfer window.
Villa won’t want to lose Delph on a free transfer at the end of the season, and Lambert is well aware that the player holds all the cards in this situation.
“With the Bosman ruling the player holds the cards. I know that because I’ve done it myself,” the Scot said.
“I know exactly what the Bosman ruling can do. Fabian’s been playing really well and I’m pretty sure he’s feeling good – other than the injury.
“We will speak when it’s time.”
Arsenal and Liverpool are among the main contenders to sign the England international, with both sides looking in need of improvements in the middle of the park after difficult starts to the season this year.
The Gunners have recently lost Mikel Arteta and Jack Wilshere to injury, and Delph could make a great replacement in that part of the pitch. Liverpool, meanwhile, need a long-term replacement for Steven Gerrard and could do with an upgrade on the likes of Joe Allen and Lucas Leiva in that area of their squad.