It could mean the Sweden international will play his last game for the midlands club in Saturday's home Premier League clash with Blackburn.

The Italian giants were initially thought to be happy for Mellberg to sign a pre-contract agreement and then link up with them when his current Villa deal expires in the summer.

But an injury crisis has prompted them to make an offer - believed to be around $1.25million - in the hope of Mellberg being allowed to leave now.

O'Neill is planning to speak with Mellberg after the Blackburn game and is expected to reveal whether a deal has gone through for the 30-year-old on Monday.

The Villa manager said: "Olof is keeping me in the picture. I have absolute trust in him. I know what is happening. After the weekend we will have a look at some things.

"Juventus have put an offer to us although I haven't seen it yet. I have been told about it.

"That is a natural thing for them to do if they want to sign someone and want to have him in January instead of the end of the season.

"If Olof chooses to go to Juventus in the summer, and is in the form he has shown me so far when playing this season, then great.

"I'll let you know what is happening on Monday. I want to get the Blackburn game, which is really important, out of the way.

"I'll have a better picture on Monday. He is available to play on Saturday."

Mellberg joined Villa from Racing Santander during the summer of 2001 and has operated mainly as a central defender, but this season a lack of right-backs at the club has led to him switching roles.

O'Neill has been linked with Tottenham's Pascal Chimbonda and Rangers' Alan Hutton as possible replacements.

But he said: "If you are asking me if we have bid for the players that you are thinking about and have in your mind, then absolutely not."

*CHELSEA have signed Argentinian teenager Franco Di Santo on a four-and-a-half-year contract.

SPURS were today closing in on Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate after having an offer of more than $17million accepted.

Aston Villa are understood to have rejected a $10million bid from BOLTON for central defender Gary Cahill.

Marlon King has signed for WIGAN from Watford after his protracted switch to Fulham broke down.

SPURS goalkeeper Paul Robinson has dismissed speculation that he made a request to leave White Hart Lane during the January transfer window.

Lyon coach Alain Perrin has confirmed Milan Baros is in talks with PORTSMOUTH about a possible return to the Premier League.

Rangers are hopeful Daniel Cousin's £3million move to FULHAM will be rubber-stamped by FIFA before the end of the month.

BIRMINGHAM are giving a trial to Honduras striker Carlos Costly.

LIVERPOOL midfielder Mohamed Sissoko has claimed he is on the verge of completing a move to Juventus.

CELTIC dismissed reports that PORTSMOUTH want left-back Lee Naylor, claiming Burnley's failed attempt to land Derek Riordan for a fee of $1million has been the only concrete bid received.

LAZIO have insisted Macedonian striker Goran Pandev will not be sold in the January transfer window.

FEYENOORD have signed midfielder Denny Landzaat from Wigan in a $2.5million deal. Feyenoord defender Dwight Tiendalli has joined local rivals Sparta Rotterdam until the end of the season.

TOULOUSE have insisted in-demand striker Johan Elmander is not for sale.

LYON have accused Juventus of going back on their word after the French champions' signing of Jean-Alain Boumsong was delayed.

Former Asian Player of the Year Shinji Ono is closing in on a move from Asian champions Urawa Reds to Bundesliga side BOCHUM.

WATFORD have signed Fulham striker Collins John on loan until the end of the season.

CHARLTON have completed the permanent signing of Andy Gray from BURNLEY. The deal will see the Addicks pay an initial £1.5million for the 30-year-old striker, with the possibility of a further $1.2million depending on the club's promotion to the Premier League.

PRESTON boss Alan Irvine has revealed that Michael Hart's prospective move from Aberdeen has been put on hold after a scan confirmed he could be sidelined for up to six weeks.

BRIGHTON have signed ROCHDALE striker Glenn Murray in a $750,000 deal. The 24-year-old has scored 10 goals for Dale this season and has now joined the Seagulls on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

SOUTHEND manager Steve Tilson has swooped to make Tottenham striker Lee Barnard his third January signing. Meanwhile Shrimpers defender Garry Richards - who only moved to Roots Hall from Colchester in the summer - has joined League One rivals GILLINGHAM for an undisclosed fee.

NORTHAMPTON have signed free agent Gabor Gyepes initially until the end of the season.

SWINDON manager Maurice Malpas has revealed midfielder Steve Adams is in talks with Torquay.

MK DONS striker Drewe Broughton has joined League Two strugglers WREXHAM on a month's loan. The Dons, meanwhile, have completed a loan swoop for ACCRINGTON striker John Miles, who played under manager Paul Ince at Macclesfield last season.

Arsene Wenger has no intention of letting Theo Walcott or any other of his ARSENAL youngsters out on loan.

AUXERRE have completed the signing of FYR Macedonia international Robert Popov from Bulgarian club Litex Lovech on a three-year deal.

It would take a bid of over $110million to prise star striker Luis Fabiano away from SEVILLA, according to club president Jose Maria del Nido.