Too… much… Barry.
With Aston Villa confirming that they’ve turned down another bid by Liverpool for midfield ace Gareth Barry today, it seems Martin O’Neill is reportedly holding out for a massive 18 (or 20) million pounds. This feels like the 10th story on Barry we’ve done today, but the news keeps trickling out so we’ll keep reporting it.
But is Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez being held to ransom?
It came as no surprise that Villa dismissed the Reds’ latest bid for Barry, rumoured to be in the region of 13 million GBP
“The offer we received was a slight improvement on a previous bid,” an Aston Villa spokesman told the BBC. “But our position on the issue remains unchanged and Liverpool have been informed.”
With Rafa Benitez having failed to move on Jermaine Pennant, John Arne Riise, Charles Intandje or Scott Carson, it seems the Reds may find Villa”s asking price too much. Especially given that co-chairmen Hicks and Gillett are struggling financially-
But should funds become available, is a twenty-seven year old with no Champions League experience like Gareth Barry genuinely worth 18 million?
Steven Gerrard certainly thinks so what with his recent highly publicised in the media “Bring Barry to Liverpool” comments.
But what do COS’s Liverpool fans think? Is the club being asked to pay over the odds ?
Wouldn’t it be better for Rafa to stick with the midfield he’s got? Keep Alonso? Or maybe blow the whole kitty on someone to play up-front with Torres like David “twinkletoes” Villa?
I am sure Martin O’Neill doesn’t want his captain going to the North West but if Barry is so set on the move, it seems like O’Neill’s decided he wants Liverpool to help fund his own summer spending spree.