Laursen has been in sparkling form for Villa this season and, while on duty with Denmark last week, expressed concern over a lack of talks about a new deal.

The former AC Milan player has been linked with a move to Tottenham after putting a three-year injury nightmare behind him during the current campaign.

O’Neill said: “We have arranged a meeting with Martin’s agent – but it was set up before these quotes came out while away with his country.

“I was a bit surprised at the comments because I had spoken to his agent before, but not to worry.

“Martin has been away with Denmark for the past two weeks and I assumed the agent would let him know we have spoken.”

Swedish international Mellberg is reported to be attracting interest from Juventus and AC Milan.

O’Neill said: “We have had discussions. I have spoken to Olof and have agreed to just leave him for a while.

“There has been a bit of too-ing and fro-ing so we have left it for a week or so and said we would revisit it later on.

“It would be unfair of me to say what is causing the impasse.”

Both Laursen and Mellberg will be free to sign pre-contracts with foreign clubs if they so desire when the transfer window reopens in January.

O’Neill said: “If players choose to leave, then we have to make a strenuous effort to keep somebody we want to keep. We can do no more than that.

“Players in the final year of a contract have their own decisions to make as much as anyone else, and so have we at the football club.”