O'Neill admits Mellberg move

Martin O'Neill has admitted for the first time that a move may be on the cards for Olof Mellberg away from Aston Villa to Juventus. Juve have been linked with the Swedish defender for some time for a January transfer window move.

O'Neill quipped: "It is their prerogative. I am not even sure that they have to do that but at least they have made their intentions clear. They are well within their rights to do so.

"Olof has been here seven years. He has earned the right to do this. He wants to have a wee look around and it might not be anything to do with money. It might be an environmental thing.

"If someone like Juventus have shown an interest, and within six months of your contract running out, I think you have to explore every avenue.

"I don't plague him every single day about these things. I just let him get on with it and he might come around to formulating some idea in his head of what he wants to do."