Aston Villa want to keep Ciaran Clark

Aston Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo wants to keep centre-back Ciaran Clark but knows he may be powerless to stop the defender from leaving.

It's understood Clark has a £5million release clause in his current contract, and the 26-year-old is attracting interest from local rivals.

West Brom head coach Tony Pulis is a long-standing admirer of the Irish international.

Although he is yet to make a bid for the Villa academy product, Pulis is ready to trigger Clark's release clause at the end of the summer if the Baggies require a defender.

Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo knows he needs to trim his large squad, but he's keen to keep Clark.

However, the decision may be taken out of his hands. Albion are in desperate need of a left-back, but they have had a £9m bid for Jeffrey Schlupp knocked back by Leicester.

Hull City are interested in taking out-of-favour James Chester back to the KC Stadium, which would create a slot in the back four for a versatile defender.

Pulis has earmarked Clark as the type of player he prefers, tall and capable of doing a job at either centre-back or left-back.

If the Baggies boss decides to trigger the release clause, the decision will rest on Clark's shoulders.

And Albion hope the offer of Premier League football and Premier League wages will be enough to sway his mind.