O'Neill - Barry deal can wait

Barry: Summer transfer saga

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• Gareth Barry

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Martin O'Neill insists there is no rush to get Gareth Barry signed up on a long-term contract.

The Aston Villa boss has seen his influential midfielder consistently linked with a move to Liverpool this summer, with the saga only recently coming to an end.

Barry's agent claimed his client 'will not leave Aston Villa' during the summer transfer window, refreshing news for all concerned at Villa Park.

O'Neill admits he had become resigned to losing the England international, but will now adopt a cautious approach to ensuring that a similar situation does not arise again in the future.

Bonus

He said: "If Gareth stays with us for the foreseeable future, I will be really delighted. It will be a really big bonus for us. If Gareth is here this time next week, I will be relieved.

"I would have said only a few weeks ago that I was resigned to the fact Gareth would no longer be here - around about the time we played Reading in pre-season and when he didn't come with us to Malaga because I assumed everything would be done that week.

"But as for the future now, let's go one step at a time. That is what I would be looking at.

"I wouldn't want to be rushing anyone into making decisions or asking anyone to do something that no-one is really comfortable with."

Mentality

Despite the controversy which has surrounded him during the close season, O'Neill never had any doubts that Barry would respond in a positive manner once it became clear he would be remaining in the Midlands.

The former Celtic boss said: "Gareth will have better days for us than at Stoke with a bit of luck but Saturday might just have been a culmination of four games in quick succession, the lack of any steady pre-season build-up, and all of those things.

"I couldn't have faulted him in any of the matches he had played for us before that one and it was just maybe everything getting to him at the one time - including maybe that sharpness and fitness that he is still striving for.

"Is Gareth in the right frame of mind? I think he answered that with his performances in the games he has played for us."

Milner

The news that James Milner has handed in a transfer request at Newcastle has grabbed O'Neill's attention, and the Ulsterman revealed that a move for the Magpies winger remains a possibility.

"I will tell you that we are very keen to try to strengthen our side between now and transfer deadline day (1st September)," he said.

"I am sure I could get one or two in anyway but it is just adding the sort of quality that I would want - and that is exactly what I will be trying to do.

"Am I a fan of Milner? He was nearly here two years ago. He nearly signed two years ago but it didn't materialise. But I never think anything is done and dusted until anything happens.

"So many things have happened to me as a player and as a manager that I would never take anything for granted. It was disappointing at the time but it was two years ago."