Lambert: I still have final say on Villa’s summer dealings

It seems as if Paul Lambert is doubling down on the statements he made on Monday when it was revealed that he would be returning as Aston Villa's manager. Then he said that he would "never sell Christian Benteke" and a core of good players. Today he insists of those players that "they’re not going anywhere."

He was apparently asked about players like Benteke, Fabian Delph, Ron Vlaar, Brad Guzan, and Ashley Westwood. While Villa were pretty miserable last season, those players had decent campaigns and losing them would be a serious blow to the club's ambitions this year. Lambert is confident that he can keep them around though. “I’ll still have the final say on who came and who went. I’d imagine I’d still have all that on my side. I wouldn’t imagine anyone will leave without my permission."

It's not really anything different than we heard on Monday, but it's good to hear it again. Randy Lerner is making life difficult this summer by only giving Lambert a limited budget with which to work, but he is at least allowing Lambert the freedom to do what he wants within that budget. It's a reminder that while things aren't great at the club right now, they could certainly be worse. 

That is unless you're one of the people who think that Lambert overseeing another summer is the worst option. And if so, I'm sorry. Your nightmare continues.