Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is battling to keep skipper Gareth Barry away from Chelsea and Liverpool.

"I really have no comment whatsoever to make," O'Neill told the Express and Star newspaper. "There was talk about Chelsea coming in for him, and a manager is usually the last to find out about these things.

"Gareth has two years on his contract to run, he has a testimonial, and, although I'm not holding anyone to ransom, Gareth is certainly one person we will be sitting down with to discuss a new contract."