Villa manager tells Liverpool that the deadline has passed on £17.5m midfielder: Could the saga really be over?
by offsidetrap on July 31st, 2008
| 300 words |
Liverpool supporters can forget about their dream of watching Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry linking up next season. After nearing the completion of a deal this evening that would have seen Liverpool pull off a shock move for Barry, Villa manager Martin O’Neill decided to put a halt to the final negotiations by telling Rafa that the deadline has passed. There will be no deal!
Aston Villa have tonight responded to speculation they were close to selling Gareth Barry to Liverpool by saying he will now remain with the club. It was believed this afternoon that talks were nearing completion between the two clubs, with Liverpool set to pay £17.5m and send right-back Steve Finnan to Villa Park, but Villa have stated that a deadline for the deal has passed and the move is off.
“This evening Aston Villa can announce that Gareth Barry will be staying with the club following the interest from Liverpool over recent months,” said a Villa statement. “During discussions in the past few days, a final deadline to conclude this episode was set that all parties were aware of and agreed to. This deadline has now passed and so Gareth will remain with Villa.” (The Guardian)
WOW! I am usually the type that trusts the whole Guardian lot, so for the paper to say that the two clubs were nearing “completion” of a deal comes as a bit of a shock. Were Liverpool really on Villa’s doorstep nearing a final agreement for their skipper? Who knew that adding Finnan to the deal was enough to force negotiations into the final stages?! Regardless, it looks like this deal is now dead in the water.
Could we really be seeing the end of the Gareth Barry saga? Pinch me, I think I’m dreaming!
We're giving you £10 FREE so show some bollocks and BET NOW!
Tagged Under: Aston Villa FC, Liverpool FC, Premier League, rumours
Aman Ramdeyal - July 31st, 2008 at 6:51 am
Not sure how long this saga is going to go on for. I can’t see Rafa going back to Villa for Gareth Barry.
BIG G - July 31st, 2008 at 7:04 am
I hope its now over i dont want barry!! Keep Alonso see how his form goes if hes no good sell him in January and get Barry then!! In the meantime we need Silva rasie funds for him!!
Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Agger Dossena
Gerrard Mascherano
Silva Keane Babbel
Torres
Thats a great starting 11 and would easily finish in the top 3 of the prem it has the core of the side from last season with some new improved additions!!! We need Silva get dollar for him!
michael - July 31st, 2008 at 10:02 am
I dink we can still get him in rafa we trust YNWA
chaz - July 31st, 2008 at 11:13 am
O’neil has shot himself in the foot by cruelly denying a great servant in Barry his desired move. I expect there to be growing resentment and unrest in the Villa camp because of this. I also feel that down the years liverpool have been kind to Villa in transfers between the two clubs so I now feel that down the line O.neil and A Villa will come a cropper.
nick reddyoff - July 31st, 2008 at 11:25 am
Agree with you Big G, we need Silva over anyone else. Maybe also Rafinha is Arbeloa goes bet we most certainly need Silva
bridgey - July 31st, 2008 at 11:27 am
good shout chaz and wen liverpool beat them in wot i think is there 1st match of the season,barry is just gona be thinkin,why am i not at that club?in the champ league?challengin 4 top spot,i asked for transfer because the club was intrested in me and the club that i served so well over the years has denied me my wish,not a a nice move martin.
weirpig - July 31st, 2008 at 12:08 pm
just seen on lfc live website that the barry deal is now back on and a deal as been struck, god knows what to believe the farce continues!!
Tom - July 31st, 2008 at 12:28 pm
It is not a question of Martin O’Neill denying Barry his move.
A fair price was set for Barry, in line with other transfers that have been concluded (Carrick, Hargreaves etc) and Liverpool did not meet it.
Vila should not be forced into accepting a derisory offer for their captain and star player just because Liverpool are in such a poor financial state.
O’Neill even said that should the valuation be met then Barry could go, so he is giving him the opportunity to leave, whilst protecting the interests of the club.
You Liverpool fans are so unbelievably ignorant in attacking O’Neill.
Guy - July 31st, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I may be wrong in this but everytime I read a headline about this liverpool was meeting there asking price. It started at 16 mil - liverpool met this and the price went to 17 mil - liverpool met this and the price went to 18 mil - which I don’t believe liverpool has met yet. Granted papers are papers and who knows how true that info really is.
portsmouth rocks - July 31st, 2008 at 12:45 pm
i must stay liverpool have really messed with villa , but i have to say
you think he will perform well for them this season ?
im sure he will try but hes been unsettled by this transfer drama.
i dont blame raffa or liverpool its those yanks to blame for milking the club and spending all the money on there upper class business flights , hotels , limo service and £10.000 meals
raffa would sell his pants to bring in barry if he could , he is trying hard
you have to be blind not to see they aint giving raffa much loot
looks like sunderland have more to spend
John - July 31st, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Both party’s are as bad as each other. O’Neil has was being fair in his approach (other than the over-inflated price tag) untill he introduced the ridiculas deadline and started being a complete twazzock. But the Yanks have been twats too. Although I do not believe Liverpool are as strapped for cash as they claim (20m from Yanks, 20m from CL Semis, 20m in sales so far), Rafa is targeting others aswell as Barry, so they were idiots not to stump up for him.
Finally, O’Neil is now being harsh on Barry. Who will probably now demand a move and hand in a transfer request. If this is the end of the saga I will eat my shoe.
The Chosen one - July 31st, 2008 at 2:39 pm
TOM THUMB uve made a fair point but I`d be very concerned if I was villa manager.Barry even being a pro is also human and being late by 15 min or so and the offer being refused if true will only add more unrest to the player,toppled with the fact of being find 2 weeks wages and banned from ground for two weeks. I see only two results, barrys form seriously dipping or barry pushing and pestering again to get his dream move to liverpool. I wouldnt forgive but hey im not him.
ill tell you now if liverpool have the funds barry will be our player in the next couple of weeks and I think we have or can get it.
Everyone shouts silva, yes hes good and a good choice but lets remember hell need to adapt to epl.barry is ready and I believe in this guy.He can play 5 positions in the team and is at his peak,hes british and hes very hungry and more importantantly he wants to wear the shirt. I bet you when the gooners inquired barrys agent replied nope ta only liverpool.Guys believe in this guy and we could still be able to keep alonso.I love barrys left foot and he`d give us grit ,balance, assist and goal.
This is the first team I see.
REINA
ARBELOA CARRAGHER (sktel) AGGER DOSSENA
Mascherano (alonso)
GERRARD BARRY .
KEANE (kuyt) TORRES BABEL
This formation would be bases on mobility, flexibilty,pace and goals lol.
so we sell benyoum 6m pennant 6m voronin 5 mil and that numpty goalie 2 mil. Jobs a good one. Ill be honest ben would be the only guy id miss there.So we could keep alonso and push.
One last point ,I know the owners have been bell ends but hats of to them for one point.There has been a few players not good enough for us and telling Sir rafa he had to sell first is helping us get rid of them. Rafa is on the right path and hopefully the younsters will be pushing more for 1st foooty and well be ok.
The next 3 years will be successful.
So shall it be written
So shall it be done.
Tom - July 31st, 2008 at 3:04 pm
The deadline is by no means ridiculous.
Villa have a season to prepare for and if Liverpool continued down the path they seemed intent on taking then they wouldnt have time to purchase a replacement. Plus, if Barry was going they would want a replacement in before the start of the season.
So a deadline was fair.
This whole state of affairs has cast a cloud over Villa’s preparations for the new season. It is only fair that they want to have it concluded so they can get on with their preparations, with or without Barry.
To “The Chosen One”
Barry accepted that the deadline was fair, so he will accept that Liverpool did not meet it and therefore he should stay at Villa.
He will also see the 20.3m spent on Keane coupled with the reception he got against Odense, and look at it as showing Villa valuing him more than Liverpool.
As for the fine… He bad mouthed the manager in an interview, and it was deserved. However that was in the past and it has been dealt with.
The Chosen one - July 31st, 2008 at 4:15 pm
TOM logicand reality are 2 different things in football. Im a realist and im waiting for liverpoolto announce the deals of and especially barry to voice his commitment to villa in an statement. Maybe martin having told us of the deadline didnt think enough through to say to barry he should make an announcement and commit straight after. The lawyer that he is. Time will tell ,waiting patiently……..well see .
The Chosen one - July 31st, 2008 at 4:19 pm
and by the way oneil had already bought sidwel ages ago and he was saying the squad was small and needs to buy more players-ages ago. and they claim to add plenty of money, ages ago. yes preparation is good but they should be preparing without him and if he stays then hes like a new signing.
The Chosen one - August 2nd, 2008 at 5:33 pm
yes we are seeing, barry and his agent have just told oneil to get real lol
and oneil has just realise its about getting the money and the players wish cos if he doesnt ,hell look even a worse bell end. What i find even funnier is hes given liverpool to the end of the tranfer window. Why ? cos he`s realised hes`s not in control of the matter. yes he can set the price and thats it. This is football mr little oneil, once uve set the price then sit back and chill. If I was in his shoes I would of said 25 mil lol. But 19 is cool. Good biz all round. Now well let villa wait and pay them 3 days till end of transfer deadline lol or ask for m,oney to be paid on 5 installments lol or maybe just pay and go.
Welcome to anfield Barry, you never walked alone man and we want you more than villa afterall we atre gonna pay 19 mil for you.
Wear the shirt with pride and remember it`s a dream to be a red.
brian - August 3rd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
never mind gareth barry, i hear sunderland are offloading a few players, liverpool should look into this! a bargain could be found! liam miller, anyone!