The Villans boss has revealed the England midfielder might be allowed to leave if they fail to qualify for the Champions League this season.
Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry was strongly linked with a move to Liverpool last summer before the Reds eventually opted to sign Robbie Keane from Tottenham Hotspur.
It is thought that Rafael Benitez was extremely keen to take the England international to Anfield and the Merseyside-based outfit were reported to have made several offers to acquire his services.
However, reluctant to sell him, the Villans allegedly demanded as much as £18 million for the 28-year-old; a valuation that Liverpool were apparently unwilling to meet.
Whatever the actual ins and outs may have been, Barry remained at Villa Park while Republic of Ireland international forward Keane joined Benitez's squad for around £19m.
Subsequently, Barry has helped Aston Villa move into a Champions League qualifying position this season while Keane returned to Spurs in January following an unsuccessful spell with the Reds.
Villa manager Martin O'Neill has revealed that he would not stop Barry joining Liverpool this summer should they fail to secure a place in Europe's elite competition.
"Gareth has spent 10 years here," O'Neill is quoted as saying in The Daily Mirror.
"If we don't make the top four no-one could begrudge him a move. What happened to Keane isn't a marker for everyone."
Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry was strongly linked with a move to Liverpool last summer before the Reds eventually opted to sign Robbie Keane from Tottenham Hotspur.
It is thought that Rafael Benitez was extremely keen to take the England international to Anfield and the Merseyside-based outfit were reported to have made several offers to acquire his services.
However, reluctant to sell him, the Villans allegedly demanded as much as £18 million for the 28-year-old; a valuation that Liverpool were apparently unwilling to meet.
Whatever the actual ins and outs may have been, Barry remained at Villa Park while Republic of Ireland international forward Keane joined Benitez's squad for around £19m.
Subsequently, Barry has helped Aston Villa move into a Champions League qualifying position this season while Keane returned to Spurs in January following an unsuccessful spell with the Reds.
Villa manager Martin O'Neill has revealed that he would not stop Barry joining Liverpool this summer should they fail to secure a place in Europe's elite competition.
"Gareth has spent 10 years here," O'Neill is quoted as saying in The Daily Mirror.
"If we don't make the top four no-one could begrudge him a move. What happened to Keane isn't a marker for everyone."
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