Villa boss O'Neill ready to make his transfer moves

Jan 3 2008 By Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

VILLA are attempting to make headway in a couple of areas in the January window.

And manager Martin O'Neill has revealed that, despite Thomas Sorensen and Luke Moore's apparent desires to quit the club and the uncertainty surrounding Gary Cahill and a potential move, he does not want to lose any player.

O'Neill is desperate to sign a right-back but has long given up on signing long-term target Jose Boswinga because of Porto's apparent £20million asking price.

O'Neill has also been linked to Liverpool's Peter Crouch and John Arne Riise, both on the bench again last night against Wigan, but he appears to face stiff competition for the duo even if they are to be made available by their club.

"We're going to spend some of this month strengthening the squad because the players have made a colossal effort and we wouldn't want to throw it away now," O'Neill said.

"Strengthening will be easier said than done. If people ask am I going to be signing someone today, the answer is 'no'.

"But we'll do all we can. We're looking at a couple of things. We've got the smallest squad in the Premier League.

"We've got six ever-presents and you would imagine if Scott Carson had been available against Liverpool (on the opening day) it might have been seven."

Villa have a 23-man squad but that includes several players who have not featured at all.