O'Neill: To keep stars

We want to try to strengthen our side, not lose players.

O'Neil
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Martin O'Neill believes that if Aston Villa are to improve as a club they must retain their star players.

While the Villa boss is continuously undated with questions on who will be arriving this summer, the former Celtic boss feels it is equally important who the club retains.

Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young have both been in scintillating form of late and O'Neill would not be surprised is some of the bigger European clubs were not sniffing around their services.

"Everybody wants answers: fans do, we do, everybody does," he told the Birmingham Mail.

Improve

"I am here to improve the team in a manner that is pleasing but, more importantly, trying to improve the side more quickly in a world where there is no such thing as patience. So we will see.

"We are talking about players now very firmly in the limelight: Ashley Young, Gabby Agbonlahor... and one never knows.

"After that sort of performance (against Blues), we might be talking about Ashley Young and Barcelona.

"For us to try and realise our own particular ambitions we want to try to strengthen our side, not lose players."

Captain Gareth Barry was quoted as wanting UEFA Champions League football, however, O'Neill will not make a knee-jerk reaction over the comments.

The Villa boss wants Barry to see out the season in his current form before discussing his long-term goals and objectives behind closed doors.

"The best thing to do would be to sit down with Gareth at the end of the season," O'Neill continued.

"That's the only sensible thing to do. It is part of the job - we will see where we go. He has got two years left to run."