Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has called for the winter transfer window to be either scrapped or extended longer than a month. "Should the transfer window stay? I hope not," said O'Neill.

"I think if the Premier League haven't discussed it, then they should do. It is a waste of a month.

"I accept the fact a couple of years ago it was fine for us when we brought in people like Ashley Young and John Carew.

"But you have got to look at this situation because it is claustrophobic. I see it serving no fantastic benefit. I don't know what the point of it is."

He added: "An extension of time at least would be something. I know that the reasons for it coming in was so that clubs couldn't end up effectively being able to buy the European Cup and I accept that you can't go on buying forever.

"You can't arrive at a cup final and still have the ability to buy nine players the night before. But a bit of an extension would do no harm."