O’Neill: I want value for Villa money
Villa will be looking to cement their place in the top four of the Premier League when they visit out-of-form Portsmouth tonight.
O’Neill is keen to add more than just striker Emile Heskey — poised to make his Villa debut at Fratton Park — during the current transfer window.
O’Neill said: “The fees for players in this window have surprised me and I assume, with the wages that also go with such deals, would be more than a tidy sum.
“If there was a player out there who represented really great value for the club, and could play a major part in proceedings here for some considerable time, then I would have a look at it.
“Would I pay over the odds? Yes, I don’t mind that which was the case with Ashley Young who has proved great value. Would I pay an extortionate price for someone? No.”
O’Neill is looking to Heskey, who signed from Wigan for £3.5million on Friday, to give Villa a different dimension up front in the absence of the injured John Carew.
He said: “We are in a decent position. We need to keep the momentum going. We have been without John Carew now for over two months and Ashley Young is still suspended.
“But Emile will give us another option. He can play with Gabby and John when he is back fit. He will be excellent for us.”
Villa defender Luke Young will return against Pompey after serving a one-game ban in the FA Cup goalless draw at Doncaster for incurring five bookings this season.
Meanwhile, Hayden Mullins believes he had no choice but to end his five-year association with West Ham after a lack of first-team opportunities.
Mullins agreed a three-and-a-half-year deal at Fratton Park within 24 hours of Tony Adams contacting him on Sunday following their embarrassing FA Cup exit to Swansea.
Mullins, who goes straight into the squad to face Villa said: “I found out about it on Sunday afternoon and made my decision there and then.
“It is a good club, there are some very good players here and it is going in the right direction.”
Adams is delighted to have signed Mullins after admitting he has considered 150 players so far this transfer window.
He said: “He is an experienced player who has been round the block and knows the league. He is a dog who can physically get up and down the pitch.
Mullins is joined on England’s south coast by Portuguese U21 international Pele, who has agreed a six-month loan deal after falling out of favour at FC Porto.
Pele was sold to the Portuguese giants in the summer after just one season at Inter Milan, where he made 15 appearances.
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