Valencia fear struggle to keep Villa and Silva

Valencia vice-president Fernando Gomez has admitted the club could struggle to hold on to star players David Villa and David Silva, although he insists Los Che will do everything in their power to keep them at the Mestalla.


The two Spain internationals have attracted interest from a whole host of clubs, with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea and Inter Milan among the sides reportedly interested in the Euro 2008 winners.


New Valencia president Vicente Soriano has insisted the star duo will not leave this summer, but Gomez has hinted the financially-stricken club could be powerless to prevent them from doing so.

'On a sporting level, who wouldn't want to count on them?' he told Valencian newspaper Las Provincias.

'I will do everything possible so that they continue with us, the president also has that intention, but we are going to wait.

'I also have no offer on the table, although I will study all those that arrive for any player.'

Madrid are said to have made Villa their number one transfer target of the summer after having all but conceded defeat in their bid to sign Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo - although, according to Marca, president Ramon Calderon has told the Real board 'either Cristiano Ronaldo comes or no one comes'.

Silva's agent, Julio Llorente, claims Atletico Madrid have made a bid for his client, stating that: 'Atletico got in contact with us once and if they really want the player they should talk to Valencia.'

Reports in Spain suggest the Atletico have tabled a €22million bid for the midfielder.