Football: Aston Villa

While the Cristiano Ronaldo saga has occupied more column inches this summer, Aston Villa have been busy trying just as hard to hang on to one of their main players.

Gareth Barry, the club captain, has found himself subject to public courtship by Liverpool, but with the Merseyside club signing Tottenham's Robbie Keane this week there might be an embarassing end to the plot for the midfielder.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has admitted he needs to sell before he can match Villa's valuation of the 27-year-old and with Barry being booed by his own fans in a friendly game at Walsall, he could be forced into a corner. Martin O'Neill, his current boss, is a talented motivator though, so the England international could still remain at Villa Park.

If Barry does stay, he will play alongside new midfield partner Steve Sidwell, who ended his Stamford Bridge nightmare – the former Reading player made only seven league starts for Chelsea – by signing for £5m (Dh37m) last month.

An all-American goalkeeping department will feature Brad Guzan, who joined from MLS side Chivas USA, and the ever-reliable Brad Friedel, last week's £2m signing from Blackburn.

O'Neill took the Villains to sixth place last season and the Northern Irishman should continue to get financial backing as the club battle for Champions League qualification.

Olof Mellberg has departed to Juventus and a move for Anton Ferdinand, the West Ham centre-back, is expected. With Ashley Young dazzling on the left flank last season, O'Neill wants a right-sided winger to add balance to the team.

Jermaine Pennant is a candidate, but attention has turned to a new right-back after Wilfred Bouma dislocated his ankle in the Intertoto Cup win last week. The Dutchman will be out for at least four months.

Villains' stats

- Founded: 1874
- Home: Villa Park
- Capacity: 42,640
- Chairman: Randy Lerner
- Manager: Martin O'Neill
- Honours: 1 European Cup, 7 League titles, 7 FA Cups, 5 League Cups
- Highest PL finish: 2nd

STAR PLAYER...Ashley Young

Despite having been turned away by Watford's academy in 2001, the young winger vowed to prove the club wrong and eventually convinced the Hornets to offer him a professional contract two years later. Young went on to score on his debut and finish the 2004/05 season as Watford's Young Player of the Year, known for his electric pace and dribbling skills.

He scored 15 goals the following season after being employed as a striker by Aidy Boothroyd and saw the club promoted to the Premier League when they defeated Leeds in the Play-Off final.

Signing for Villa in January 2007 for a club record £9.75m, the 23-year-old was vital to his side's good run last season, finishing second for assists in the league with 17. He was one of only two players from outside the top four – David James the other – to be named in the Premier League Team of the Year.