Liverpool have another bid for Barry rejected

BBC Sport reports that Aston Villa have confirmed that they have rejected an improved bid from Liverpool for captain Gareth Barry.

Liverpool have publicly been chasing the midfielder for some time and initially bid £12 million to land the Villa captain. However, Villa reportedly turned down the offer in the hope for a bid of £15 million. Now it seems that Villa have since upped their valuation of Barry yet again to £18 million.

“The offer we received was a slight improvement on a previous bid,” said an Aston Villa spokesman.

“But our position on the issue remains unchanged and Liverpool have been informed.”

Martin O’Neill is said to be especially angry at Liverpool’s well publicised desire to land the Villa captain and it seems as if Villa are desperately hanging on to the midfielder. And O’Neill may gain his wish as it is likely Liverpool will soon tire of the chase and bid for a new target.

Benitez told the club website: “If we had a lot of money to spend it would obviously be better, but if we don’t, it doesn’t matter.”

“It’s not about buying the most expensive players, it’s about buying the right players and we can sell some players to get others we need. We have the spine of the team and we just need others in other positions.”

Benitez is unlikely to receive a large transfer fund this summer due to the on-going feud between owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. This reduced transfer fund may see Villa’s next valuation of Barry go slightly out of Liverpool’s reach.

However, Villa’s constant efforts to keep Barry at Villa Park will go against the players wishes, according to BBC Sport.

Barry had said that he would decide his future after returning from international duty with England recently and Barry’s agent Alex Black told BBC Radio 5 Livethat the player told Martin O’Neill he wished to play UEFA Champions League football next season, suggesting a move to Anfield was likely. Now only time will tell whether Liverpool increase their bid, or Villa keep their captain.

[Source: BBC Sport]