Martin O'Neill has told Randy Lerner he wants to wait to see whether Aston Villa clinch a European spot before deciding on a transfer budget.O'Neill had a brief conversation at the start of this week with Lerner and the owner of Cleveland Browns echoed his sentiments in wanting to keep hold of Gareth Barry who has been linked with moves to Chelsea and Liverpool.
But O'Neill would prefer to focus in the short term on trying to help Villa clinch a UEFA Cup spot as they prepare for Sunday's clash with main rivals Everton at Goodison Park.
A win for Villa would take them above the Toffees into fifth spot on goal difference with just two games remaining.
O'Neill said: "Randy has gone back to America. He is hoping to get back over here for the Everton game. He has been backwards and forwards.
"He is getting a few things organised but for the last couple of games with Wigan and West Ham he will definitely be here.
"How did the meeting with Lerner go? I asked for £80million and he said yes! He brought the war chest out and there it was, £80million! It was all there in dollars. Only joking.
"In all seriousness we touched on a number of subjects and I said to him that I would prefer to leave things for now especially as we are in a position where we have to have full concentration on the games.
"I said I would prefer to leave any major talks until after the season is over.
"But Randy shares my view in terms of keeping Gareth. Absolutely. I didn't need to have a long prolonged conversation with Randy to know that.
"He shares my ambition to keep Gareth Barry. Randy is well versed in those sort of things. He deals closely with any player dealings at the Cleveland Browns so he would be aware of such things."
Villa will go into the game with Everton bubbling with confidence after scoring 15 goals in the last three games against Bolton, Derby and Birmingham.
O'Neill said: "It has become a very important game. I wouldn't play down the significance of it. When you look at it, there is only one league position up for grabs in terms of qualifying for the UEFA Cup and we have put ourselves back in contention.
"That is all we could ask for after the disappointment of a couple of home games against Middlesbrough and Sunderland, not only in terms of results but the performances as well.
"We seem to have put that right and it has been a great little spell for us recently.
"This is an important game but it won't change our way of thinking. We are not going to up there to sit back and be cagey for half an hour. If it turns out that way, it is because we are under pressure.
"At this minute our best method of defending is attacking so there is little point in trying to change that and we might as well go for it.
"The last thing you want to do is get beaten in a game up there having not really gone for it - and that is what we are going to do.
"We could come undone but we are going up with plenty of confidence. It is in Everton's own hands but remarkably so it is in ours as well and, with three games to go, that is terrific."
O'Neill has enormous respect for Everton manager David Moyes and what he has achieved during the past five years.
He said: "Everton are the only club who have broken into the top four in the last six or seven years so great credit to them and they have tried to sustain that.
"They have been very strong and earned the right to spend £12-13 million on Yakubu. Their method of doing it has been very good. Their season has been terrific, in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup and also a great run in the UEFA Cup when beaten on penalties.
"People say they have hit a
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