Martin O’Neill has reportedly admitted defeat after weeks spent trying to fend off Liverpool in their attempts to sign his captain Gareth Barry.
Despite seeing his club come sixth in the league last season and qualify for the Intertoto Cup, it is understood that Barry has become increasingly determined to perform at Champions League level, especially after playing, and captaining, England in Trinidad. Performing at the highest plateau in Europe is a pre-requisite, he believes, for carving out a long-term international role.
As such, the chances of Barry remaining at Villa Park are looking progressively slim. O’Neill recently played down Villa’s immediate chances of reaching Champions League – a thinly veiled acceptance that the club and Barry’s most pressing ambitions no longer dovetail. Villa will demand more than the £10 million players-plus-cash deal that Rafael Benitez offered last month, with their asking price said to be in the region of £14 million.
Liverpool, for their part, have begun clearing the decks ahead of Barry’s arrival. Xavi Alonso has been given permission to move to Juventus, although negotiations have been beset by Liverpool’s failure to find common ground with the Italian club over their method of payment. The Turin club are demanding that they be allowed to pay the £16 million fee in instalments over three years.
However, the Liverpool board desperately need to free up accessible cash to fund the Barry move. Benitez is currently trying to offload Peter Crouch to Portsmouth for £10 million, although that deal is also proving harder to bring to conclusion than first thought. Benitez has instead proposed sending Crouch to Villa, a suggestion given short shrift by the 6ft 7in striker.
Finally, Liverpool are expected to firm up their deal with Italian defender Andrea Dossena today ahead of his wedding at the weekend. The Udinese player will arrive on Merseyside for the tune of £7 million.
Despite seeing his club come sixth in the league last season and qualify for the Intertoto Cup, it is understood that Barry has become increasingly determined to perform at Champions League level, especially after playing, and captaining, England in Trinidad. Performing at the highest plateau in Europe is a pre-requisite, he believes, for carving out a long-term international role.
As such, the chances of Barry remaining at Villa Park are looking progressively slim. O’Neill recently played down Villa’s immediate chances of reaching Champions League – a thinly veiled acceptance that the club and Barry’s most pressing ambitions no longer dovetail. Villa will demand more than the £10 million players-plus-cash deal that Rafael Benitez offered last month, with their asking price said to be in the region of £14 million.
Liverpool, for their part, have begun clearing the decks ahead of Barry’s arrival. Xavi Alonso has been given permission to move to Juventus, although negotiations have been beset by Liverpool’s failure to find common ground with the Italian club over their method of payment. The Turin club are demanding that they be allowed to pay the £16 million fee in instalments over three years.
However, the Liverpool board desperately need to free up accessible cash to fund the Barry move. Benitez is currently trying to offload Peter Crouch to Portsmouth for £10 million, although that deal is also proving harder to bring to conclusion than first thought. Benitez has instead proposed sending Crouch to Villa, a suggestion given short shrift by the 6ft 7in striker.
Finally, Liverpool are expected to firm up their deal with Italian defender Andrea Dossena today ahead of his wedding at the weekend. The Udinese player will arrive on Merseyside for the tune of £7 million.
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