O'Neill calm on Barry future

Villa boss plays down January transfer speculation

Last updated: 13th November 2008

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Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has demanded Gareth Barry maintains his focus as the January transfer window approaches.

The midfielder was a target of Liverpool in the summer but the Anfield outfit refused to meet Villa's £18million asking price, while Arsenal also demonstrated a curiosity.

There is expected to be renewed interest in Barry - who has 18 months remaining on his current contract - in the New Year as Tottenham are also rumoured as potential suitors.

Villa have yet to secure Barry on a fresh long-term deal, while the England international could buy out the remainder of his contract next summer, adding to speculation he could leave in the New Year.

But O'Neill is keen to play down the conjecture, telling the Birmingham Mail: "All I will say to you is that we said once the Liverpool saga had passed we would look at it from window to window.

''As far as I'm concerned that's where it remains. I'm not trying to push anything in any direction. Gareth just needs to get on with his game and see where it takes him.

"There are only two opportunities during the course of a calendar year to do something - the January window and in the close season, which is a very lengthy time from May until the end of August."