O’Neill: I must sell before I can buy

ASTON VILLA manager Martin O’Neill has admitted he will have to sell before he can bring in any new players during the January transfer window.

O’Neill revamped his squad in the summer with the signings of Habib Beye, Richard Dunne, James Collins, Fabian Delph, Stephen Warnock and Stewart Downing.

But he has conceded he will have to offload before he can bring in new blood during the current window – with around £3.5 million (€4m) likely to be recouped from the expected sale of midfielder Craig Gardner to Birmingham.