Is this fella that good that required us to have an open spat with Villa? I hope so...Last updated at 10:30 PM on 05th June 2008
Aston Villa are reluctantly ready to allow Gareth Barry to join Liverpool in a £14million deal even though manager Martin O'Neill remains adamant the England midfielder should stay.
Senior figures at Villa Park now view the matter as a lost cause and feel holding out for the best price is the only viable option. They, and Barry, may be kept waiting though Rafa Benitez continues his frantic efforts to generate the necessary funds through outgoing transfers.
His attempts to find common ground with Portsmouth over Peter Crouch have foundered on his demand for £10million plus players, with midfielder Sulley Muntari believed to be at the top of his wanted list.
Portsmouth have no intention of meeting Liverpool's valuation and negotiations with Juventus are proving just as difficult over the terms of Xabi Alonso's proposed move there. With the Italians insisting on staggered payments over three years, the Liverpool boss wants £16million in the hope of securing enough up front to finance his Barry move.
His hopes of agreeing a player-exchange deal with Villa have been hit by a clear signal from Crouch that he is only interested in joining Portsmouth, although O'Neill could accept right back Steve Finnan as part of the package.
Liverpool have failed to attract acceptable offers for other fringe players, such as Jermaine Pennant and John Arne Riise, although Roma are lining up a £5m bid for the Norwegian. Udinese left back Andrea Dossena is about complete his £7m move and could be followed into Anfield by Newcastle winger James Milner or Espanyol's Riera.
With Villa confident of landing Milner, Riera looks favourite to fill the vacancy on the flanks with Espanyol already seeking a replacement.
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