Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry insists any claims about his future are "just speculation" after reports emerged suggesting he was set for a summer move to either Chelsea or Liverpool.

The 27-year-old has been instrumental in Villa's charge towards a UEFA Cup qualification spot, and Barry has also claimed a regular place in the England squad after a string of impressive recent displays.

But despite reports Champions League semi-finalists Liverpool and Chelsea are vying for his services, Barry insists his focus remains solely on Villa.

He told Sky Sports News: "At this moment in time it's just speculation.

"It's something I've dealt with before and I will approach it exactly the same way as I have done in the past, until the manager says something different, or I hear something different.

"My job is on (playing) Birmingham City and helping Aston Villa finish this season. I don't see why else I should be sidetracked at this moment."

The lure of Champions League football could be enough to persuade Barry away from his 10-year stint in the Midlands, however the England international revealed he will wait until the end of the current campaign before making any decisions on his future.

"I'll be lying if I sit here today and say I don't think about my own future," he said.

"But as I've always done I'll take it one year at a time and assess things at the end of the season.

"There's so much to play for, for Aston Villa, and that will be my job until we play West Ham away at the end of the season.

"Everything the manager said about what was possible for this club to achieve when he came here nearly two years ago and I signed a new contract has happened.

"Now I am pretty much focused on trying to help Villa achieve fifth spot in the Premier League and finishing this season on a real high note.

"That is where I want to be and where the club want to be."

Manager Martin O'Neill admitted: "It is quite natural for someone who is in the England set-up to be a possible transfer target. This seems to be something which has gathered a bit of pace.

"But I desperately want to keep Gareth Barry and that goes for the players, the chairman and the fans. We are trying to build something here.

"Gareth has two years left of his contract and I will try and do something about that."

O'Neill is aware of the importance of Sunday's derby after Everton's home defeat at the hands of Chelsea has left the door open for them to challenge for fifth spot.

Victory over Alex McLeish's side - O'Neill's former rival from their spells in charge of Celtic and Rangers - and then at Goodison Park on Sunday week would move Villa level on points with the Toffees.

O'Neill said: "We know what we have to do. We have to win all our matches. It is a tall order but, if we get a little bit of luck, anything is possible.

"In terms of us trying to catch teams above us, the Everton-Chelsea result was a decent one for ourselves.

"We have always said we would keep trying for Europe as long as it was possible.

"We had that poor run of results in March but have bounced back excellently in the last two games with Bolton and Derby."

Barry said: "I know what this game means to the fans and Birmingham did pretty well when the derbies starting happening again a few years back after a lengthy break.

"But I have also experienced what it means to win in these games - and that is something you don't want to miss out on."

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