Juventus sporting director Alessio Secco has confirmed the Sweden international, who has been at Villa for six and a half years, "is close to signing a preliminary agreement".

Secco said: "If everything goes well, the player will become a Juve player in July. There are still minor things left to discuss."

But that would not stop O'Neill from continuing to pick Mellberg whose current deal with the midlands club expires in the summer.

The 30-year-old has solved a defensive headache for O'Neill by uncomplainingly switching from central defender to right-back for the majority of the campaign.

O'Neill said: "Olof's commitment has been excellent and, even if he decides to go in the summer or signs a pre-contract, I would have no qualms about continuing to play him.

"This boy (Mellberg) has played nearly seven years for Villa and is a top professional.

"I recognise this is a very important time of his career. When you get clubs the size of Juventus making enquiries about you then you have to weigh things up.

"But I'd be quite happy to play him if he signs a pre-contract. He is well aware he is in his last season of his current contract but the total commitment to the cause is there every single week.

"I have genuinely appreciated the efforts he has put in. I asked him to play right-back for us and he has gone into the role willingly and has never complained to me."

O'Neill will attempt during the next week to bring in new blood as injuries and suspensions start to take their toll on his small squad.

Winger Ashley Young will have to serve a one match ban after collecting his fifth booking of the season against Liverpool at Anfield and he will miss the trip to Fulham on February 3.

And skipper Gareth Barry is making only slow progress in attempting to shake off the pelvic injury which kept him out of the 2-2 draw with the Reds.

O'Neill said: "Gareth has been fantastic and was a major, massive loss to us. He's had a wonderful season and has played really great, but sometimes this (an injury) happens.

"It's hard to say how long he will be out for. When he first suffered the injury in training, he started to feel better and it wasn't so bad after the first day.

"But since then, it's been slow going. We'll see how he is and we're doing everything possible to try to get him fit."

Meanwhile, O'Neill is reluctant to allow midfielder Patrik Berger to return to Portsmouth who are understood to be ready to offer him an 18-month deal.

The Czech is still recovering from a hamstring problem and has yet to start a game this season after signing a new 12-month contract in the summer.

O'Neill said: "Portsmouth have still got to make contact with me about wanting to take him officially and Patrik can't go anywhere at the moment because he's injured."