Well it seems we may be about to say goodbye and good riddance to one of this summer’s more annoying transfer sagas, as Liverpool and Aston Villa are almost agreed!

Martin O’Neill says Aston Villa have written to Liverpool to propose a deal for Gareth Barry.
Liverpool are desperate to sign the Villa captain and last week saw a new bid of £15million rejected.
Villa have already turned down multiple offers from their Premier League rivals, with manager O’Neill valuing his skipper in the £18million bracket.
Reports suggest that O’Neill would be willing to accept £17million, plus Reds full-back Steve Finnan in part exchange.
O’Neill has not confirmed his interest in Finnan, but has revealed that a proposal has been put to his Liverpool counterpart Rafa Benitez. (Sky Sports)

It’s been suggested all over the web that this deal should be sewn up very soon indeed, with both parties finally agreeing on a price for England international Barry. After Gareth was fined by Martin O’Neill for comments he made to the tabloids, there really was no going back and now that Villa get a very reliable, if slightly old, full-back in the shape of Steve Finnan, then everyone is happy.

O’Neill seems to have already begun spending the cash as Steve Sidwell appears to have ended his Stamford Bridge nightmare. Rafa clearly sees the 27-year-old as some kind of dream signing and he has fought long and hard for a player who is at his peak. Do Liverpool fans think that Gareth Barry will be a big success at Anfield?