Gerard Houllier’s soon-to-be out-of-contract stars have been told their futures will not be resolved until Villa secure their Premier League safety.

First-team regulars Brad Friedel and Nigel Reo-Coker will be free agents if their current deals are allowed to expire at the end of the campaign.

Villa’s midfield understudies Robert Pires and Michael Bradley are also in limbo about where they will be playing their football next season.

But outcasts Moustapha Salifou and Isaiah Osbourne, who cut short his loan spell with Sheffield Wednesday yesterday, are still expected to leave.

Ashley Young has already delayed a decision about his future until the summer with Villa determined to resist the advances of several top clubs.  

Houllier insists Villa’s Premier League status is a much more pressing priority than the futures of individual players during the coming weeks.

With the claret and blues just two points above the drop zone with seven games left, Houllier is desperate to improve a run of just one win in seven.  

He is hopeful Villa can accumulate enough points to stay up by the end of this month and will hold contract talks then.

It follows Brad Friedel’s agent’s claims that Villa have already started discussions with the veteran goalkeeper about a potential deal extension.