Aston Villa: Gareth Barry insists club won't be held to transfer ransoms
GARETH Barry believes Martin O’Neill is right to bide his time in the January transfer market and not to simply boost Villa’s numbers for the sake of it.
The former skipper has sympathised with his manager who has so far seen Villa priced out of adding to his squad.
Targets Roque Santa Cruz and Kenwyne Jones have been given inflated values by their clubs while before them Jermain Defoe went for £15million to Tottenham.
O’Neill brought only Wayne Routledge to the club last year and Barry said: “The manager is definitely looking to add. It is a tricky one though because he does not want to add just for the sake of it.
“He wants players who want to improve us – not just numbers. It is a tough one for the manager.”
Chief targets Emile Heskey and Michael Owen will make their decisions in the summer when they are free agents at Wigan and Newcastle.
Barry continued: “Clubs don’t want to sell their best players in January. You also get players who are thinking: ‘Do I want to go and play for Aston Villa?’
“It is a tough decision for them when they will also have the established big clubs after them.
“The manager is right in what he is doing. He has to wait for the right one. Not just dive in for the sake of it.”
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