O’Neill plans January shopping spree

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill has suggested that his club won’t be vacating the upper end of the Premier League any time soon, as he intends to bolster his squad with a crop of world class players when the transfer window re-opens in January.

Aston Villa is currently flying high in the Premiership, and is presently ranked 5th on the league table, with only points difference separating the club from 4th-placed Arsenal.

O’Neill believes that his club is seeing the benefits of big spending during the off-season transfer window, but that further reinforcements will need to be brought into the fold in the months ahead - if Aston Villa wishes to maintain pressure on the bigger clubs.

“We will be trying to bring in players in the window,” O’Neill told Gola.com. “We are looking to improve the depth and quality of the squad.”

Amongst the players on O’Neill’s wish-list are Emile Heskey, currently plying his trade at Wigan, and Standard Liege midfield Steven Defour.

Aston Villa will be facing its next big test in the Premier League this Saturday, when the club hosts Manchester United at Villa Park. A victory by Villa could prove that the club has finally arrived in the top flight of English football.