Juve close to deal with Mellberg
Italian giants Juventus are closing in on a deal to sign Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg at the end of the season.
The 30-year-old Swedish international spent three years at Racing Santander before joining Villa in 2001.
Juve sporting director Alessio Secco said: "Mellberg is close to signing a preliminary agreement. If all goes well he will become a Juve player in July."
Juventus are also reported to to be interested in Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko.
Juve coach Claudio Ranieri, the former Chelsea boss, worked with Sissoko at Valencia.
Secco added: "We haven't ruled out the possibility of him joining us in the transfer window."
Meanwhile, O'Neill insists Mellberg will not be sidelined if he decides now to join Juventus at the end of the season.
"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," the Irishman said.
"I recognise this is a very important time of his career and 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."
