Source: SKY_Sports
O'Neill - We'll keep top stars
Martin O'Neill insists Aston Villa have no intention of losing any of their top assets over the summer, after vowing to keep hold of the likes of Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor.[LNB] Villa may have missed out on the UEFA Champions League for next season due to poor form of late, but O'Neill is confident the club remains an attractive draw.[LNB]The likes of Young and Agbonlahor are likely to attract attention after outstanding seasons, with the exciting duo being voted PFA Young Player of the Year and runner-up respectively.[LNB]O'Neill accepts that long-serving midfielder Gareth Barry may want to severe his ties with Villa and seek the opportunity to play Champions League football.[LNB]But with regards the rest of the squad, he is confident he can keep intact a group of players that have collectively made massive strides this term.[LNB]ContractsHe said: "Players are under contract. That is vitally important.[LNB]"With Gareth Barry, you do accept having spent 10-11 years at the club, he would be wanting to have a look at other particular things.[LNB]"The rest of the boys have done well, but haven't in terms of over a long period of time for me to be overly concerned about that.[LNB]"I am quite sure I would be surprised if some people were not inquiring about our players - big teams - but I am hoping we will be able to withstand that.[LNB]"Are Villa no longer a selling club? At the moment we are pretty vibrant and that seems to be the buzz going around the Premier League.[LNB]"It will be up to us to try and maintain that. I just think there is a bit of something about the side here we would like to continue trying to improve."[LNB]O'Neill added: "I think without question that Villa a more attractive proposition than 12 months ago.[LNB]"I was down at the PFA awards with Ashley and Gabby. The vibes around the room were very positive. The kind of feeling around was that Villa have been really buzzing."[LNB]Tigers gameVilla's primary aim for the rest of the season will be to fend off Everton's bid for fifth spot and that task reconvenes on Monday night as O'Neill's side host Hull City.[LNB]At the opposite end of the table the Tigers are desperate for points to retain their top flight status and O'Neill believes Phil Brown's side can beat the drop.[LNB]"It gnaws away at you and you want to know where the next point is coming from," he added on Sky Sports News.[LNB]"They are in a serious predicament because in recent months they have not got the points on the board. Deep down they think probably another four points would do it for them.[LNB]"I think that they feel that the way they have played recently means they're capable of doing that."[LNB]
