Martin O'Neill has spoken out against the transfer window system and believes it forces managers into making panic signings.

The Aston Villa boss is expected to be active when the window reopens in January with Robbie Keane, Curtis Davies and Phil Bardsley among his potential targets.

But the Irishman is a bigger fan of the previous system where players could be signed at any time throughout a campaign up until transfer deadline day in late March.

O'Neill said: "Do I like the transfer window? Not particularly. I think what it does do is point everyone into this supposed window of opportunity - and sometimes you are panicked into things.

"After January 31st a manager is not able to do anything until the end of the season. He has that in his mind. Before the system was okay. I am not a fan of this one - and I am not so sure many people are - but whilst it is in place, you can't do anything about it.

"You are not going to change the transfer window this season but I am sure people will be lobbying to try and do something about it and hopefully that will be successful in the not too distant future.

"In this particular year, whilst the transfer window is there, you just get on with it."

O'Neill admits he is being continually contacted by agents keen to try and sign players for Villa but he is adamant the emphasis will be on bringing in quality.

And adopting that criteria means O'Neill accepts the players he wants to attract on a long-term basis may not be available until the summer.

He said: "I get loads of DVDs from agents showing players in action - and if you sat down and covered everyone of them, you wouldn't ever get out of the house. There will be players you are well aware of because the game has become more global during the last few years.

"If someone now mentions players to you from abroad, I would say you would have a fairly good chance of knowing who they are talking about.

"But in January I think it is difficult to get the quality players you think are capable of doing a big job for the club for the next four or five years.

"It is also difficult to get other players in. Everyone is doing the same thing but we will do our utmost to try and strengthen in January because we need to."