Villa boss Martin O’Neill has reassured supporters he plans to strengthen his squad for next season.

His comments came as the club were linked with a £14m double swoop for West Ham midfielder Scott Parker and Bayer Leverkusen’s Switzerland international Tranquillo Bernetta, as well as Arsenal’s Croatia international striker Eduardo.

The manager has yet to dip into the transfer market and it’s talk of exits rather than arrivals which have dominated the headlines so far this summer.

James Milner is a £30million target for Manchester City while midfielders Nigel Reo-Coker and Steve Sidwell along with defensive quartet Curtis Davies, Habib Beye, Nicky Shorey and Luke Young have all been told they can leave if the price is right.

Robbie Keane, Stephen Ireland, Anderlecht midfielder Mbark Boussoufa and South Korea World Cup defender Cho Yong-Hyung are believed to be among Villa’s leading targets, with O’Neill admitting the squad must strengthened with a Europa League campaign, along with the Premier League, FA Cup and Carling Cup, to contend with.

He said: “The premise you are working on is to have the squad to be able to cope with injuries and suspensions and tiredness throughout the season.

“We probably used less players than anyone else in the Premier League last season.

“I know I’m starting to sound like an old record, but that is something you would really have to look at.”

O’Neill generally stuck with a settled side last season but admits his team were fortunate to get through last season without too many injury problems

Davies, Freddie Bouma and cruciate knee ligament victim Fabian Delph were their only long-term absentees.

But the manager concedes there are no guarantees they will be so lucky this term.

He said: “We didn’t fade away last season as people thought, but I think we’ve been lucky with injuries.

“In general, players have played a lot of games, which they like to do but it would be nice to be able to rotate and feel that your squad is not weakened because of it.

“I feel it’s something managers must do.”