The Ecuadorian defender has been keen to stress he needs regular first-team football if he is to guarantee himself a place at the World Cup. But the former Hibernian player - signed by previous Villa boss Graham Taylor after impressing in the last World Cup in 2002 - has made only two Premiership starts during the current campaign. The arrival of Aaron Hughes from
"Ulises' agent came to see us three weeks ago and said the lad wants to play and would we be prepared to take an offer for him?," said Tubbs as he took out a pair of patronising kid gloves. "I don't want to lose him when I've got such a compact squad. He's a lovely lad, a great professional, oh yes he is, oh yes he is. His contract runs out at the end of the season, he's got a World Cup coming up and he wants to play for his country.
"I told the agent that if the boy wants to get away, we'd listen to offers. But, as I speak, we haven't had any offers. We are trying to keep the numbers up here not lose them. But, with Ulises, I've also got Mark Delaney and Aaron Hughes to cover his position, and that is one position maybe you can look at."