Randy Lerner hoping to keep captain Gareth Barry at Aston Villa

Randy Lerner has told Martin O'Neill he is prepared to fight tooth and nail to keep Gareth Barry at Aston Villa.

The club's American owner is determined to keep hold of the England international amid growing speculation that Liverpool will be launching a summer bid.

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Lerner met Villa boss O'Neill this week before flying back to the United States, having made it clear that keeping the midfielder happy is his priority.

And O'Neill has revealed that the billionaire will back him over new deals for Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Wilfred Bouma.

"Randy shares the same view as myself regarding Gareth," he said. "I didn't need a long conversation with him to know that. We are going to make efforts to keep Gareth here. I have a decent enough rapport with him to be able to sit down and talk. We are going to make substantial efforts to keep Gareth."

O'Neill has laughed off suggestions that he is going to spend £80million in the transfer market this summer.

But he has admitted that his squad need substantial strengthening if he is to build on this season's strong finish.

He added: "I accept that we're going to have to do some work. No, scratch that, we are going to have to do a lot of work."