Houllier still keen on Adam

Adam: Villa target

Gerard Houllier admits he would still like to bring Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam to Aston Villa.

Villa have already had two bids knocked back for the Scotland international, but are refusing to give up the chase.

An initial offer of £2.5million was dismissed out of hand by Blackpool, while an improved approach of £3.5million also failed to force the Seasiders' hand.

Houllier, though, admits he could return for a third time before the January transfer window slams shut, with Adam still very much in his thoughts.

He said: "We made no mystery after what was said by [Ian] Holloway in the press.

"It is true we made a bid and it is true we like the player. It is true we would like to have him here."

Houllier has also hit back at his Premier League rivals who have accused him of deploying underhand tactics in his pursuit of new recruits.

Insulting

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has hit out at Villa for the manner in which they went about landing Darren Bent, and Holloway has been less than complimentary about the ongoing Adam chase.

Houllier insists he has done nothing wrong, though, and is adamant that any approaches for players have been made through the right channels.

He said: "It's the same with Ian Holloway. We did things right with Blackpool.

"We went straight to the club, we were quiet, we said nothing and finally it comes out in the press but not from Aston Villa.

"He said we were insulting them. We made a bid, they said no and we respect that.

"But there is no point in being vocal and saying we were insulting them and insulting the player.

"They are insulting us but we don't want to go on about it."