The Australian keeper will be out of contract next summer and was expected to be leaving the Birmingham club on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling.

Bosnich, who is injured and has been replaced in the Villa side by Michael Oakes in recent weeks, has already been linked with possible moves to Manchester United, Liverpool and AS Roma.

But his agent Paul Smith denied that the player will definitely be walking out of the door of the Premiership leaders at the end of the season.

"Mark wants to be part of a successful side and he's got the opportunity at the moment to do that with Aston Villa," Smith said.

"It's been made to look as though Aston Villa's form will have no effect on what Mark's future may hold.

"The propoganda that's going around about Mark Bosnich at the moment is very sad."

Smith said Bosnich's movements had yet to be decided - but he defended the player's right to leave the club if he felt the time was right.

"The fact is that whatever he decides to do, he has the right to leave at the end of the season by exercising his freedom of contract, which incidentally he's waited five years to do.