Aston Villa boss David O'Leary believes Thomas Hitzlsperger will stay at the club to aid his 2006 World Cup chances. O'Leary revealed contract negotiations were going well, adding his "gut feeling" was the German would sign.
"What I said to him is that the year before the World Cup you want to be settled and everything to be normal.
"I think he will want to go into the World Cup being settled and at place you know and I think the contract we're offering him is ideal," O'Leary said.
Villa chairman Doug Ellis has held initial talks with Hitzlsperger and his representatives over a deal which will keep him at Villa Park until the summer of 2007.
O'Leary added: "Thomas's agent came over and a proposal was put to him for this season and two more years.
 |  What he has done here has got him into the German team |
"They made their offer, the chairman gave them his proposal and the agent has gone back to Switzerland to think about it.
"The bottom line is he will ring the chairman back on it at the start of next week.
"We were a long way apart when they made their initial offer but I think there is a level now where there is not much in it."
O'Leary knows the player's dream is to be part of the World Cup in 2006 but does not believe Hitzlsperger has to play every week to stake his claim.
He said: "I'm Irish and if the World Cup was held in Ireland, you'd want to be part of it.
"I know Thomas feels the same way about the tournament in Germany.
"But what he has done here has got him into the German team.
"I've heard Thomas say about needing regular football but he hasn't been playing regular for us and has got in the squad.
"Not many do these days. You need big squads.
"I personally think not playing all the time next season means he would go into a World Cup a lot fresher instead of wrecked. He doesn't have to play 38 league games."
MMIX
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