O'Neill in no rush to let Gary Cahill go

Jan 24 2008 By Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN O'Neill has again insisted he is in no rush to let Gary Cahill leave Villa.

And he has put the defender on standby for first-team duty should Olof Mellberg decide he needs to take things easy as he prepares himself for a summer move to Italy.

Cahill is one of the hottest young properties in the game at the moment, and although he is not keen to leave Villa he also wants first-team football.

But none of a clutch of clubs, including Blues, Wigan, Sunderland, Fulham, Derby and Sheffield United, have come close to meeting Villa's £4million asking price.

O'Neill said: "No-one has met our valuation. As for a loan, it's something I would consider if we got the players in."

The manager allowed Steven Davis and Liam Ridgewell both to leave last summer, even though he would ideally have preferred them to fight for a place.

Cahill made the bench at Liverpool for the first time since the opening day of the season against the Reds.

But he knows that even with Mellberg out of the way next season, he is still behind Martin Laursen, Curtis Davies and Zat Knight.

"I understand Gary's position in that he wants to play, but I have to look after events here," said O'Neill.

"Having done so well at Sheffield United on loan, he obviously doesn't want to stall his career.

"By the same token, I'm not in any rush and I will continue to monitor Gary's situation right up until transfer deadline.

"It also depends on Olof Mellberg's situation and I need to assess his frame of mind if he has decided to move on."