Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill confident Petrov will sign new deal

It's good to talk: Petrov has started negotiationsMartin O'Neill has urged Aston Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov to sign a new contract. Petrov's four-year deal expires at the end of next season and he has held talks on extending his stay at Villa Park.   O'Neill is satisfied with the way negotiations are progressing but will take nothing for granted until the former Celtic player puts pen to paper.   Petrov has won over the Villa fans with his performances this season after initially struggling to make an impact following his £6million move from the Celtic Park.   O'Neill said: 'If Stiliyan could commit himself to a new contract, I'd be delighted.  'Contract talks are going pretty okay. Of course, nothing is ever okay until someone has actually signed on the dotted line. But we would like him to stay.   'We are waiting to hear back (from his advisors). The discussions have been going on very amicably. We would hope to be continuing those discussions very shortly.' O'Neill added: 'It is only just a year ago that people were concerning themselves about whether Stiliyan had a future here. But he has battled back, so much so that I'd like him to be around here for the next couple of years.   'If every person shows the same determination, willingness and drive that Stiliyan has shown during the last year, it would be brilliant.   'He has shown consistency and self confidence. He had a lot to overcome and he has gone on to show he is the player I thought he was capable of being. He has shown great character.' Grounds for concern? As United ramp up the cost of their season tickets, here's Sportsmail's club-by-club guide to Premier League prices We've been here be-FOUR! Sportsmail's guide to the Premier League's 4-4 thrillersASTON VILLA FC

Source: Daily_Mail