Despite having repeated bids for this midfielder turned down Rafa looks set to continue his hunt for this impressive England midfielder.
LIVERPOOL will remain confident of sealing the signature of Gareth Barry despite his return to pre-season training with Aston Villa today.
The Midlands club released a statement last night confirming their captain – who they value at £18million – would return to their Bodymoor Heath HQ this morning.
It came less than a fortnight after Martin O’Neill fined Barry a reported two-weeks’ wages and declared he wouldn’t be allowed back to training after the player publicly criticised his manager for the handling of the transfer saga a fortnight ago.
But with O’Neill also admitting Arsenal have asked to kept informed of Barry’s status, he is aware of the need to avoid too much disruption to his pre-season preparations.
Villa have accepted the midfielder’s desire for Champions League football but know that he will only yield their asking price if he is kept to the peak of his fitness during the summer.
Indeed, Barry’s return to training is merely more evidence that his club are prepared to accept his departure for something more in the region of the £15million Liverpool are prepared to pay.
Manager Rafael Benitez is reluctant to abandon the deal at this stage and is pondering a fifth bid as Arsenal’s interest gathers momentum. (Liverpool Daily Post)
It does seem that any Liverpool moves in the transfer market depend somewhat on selling one more big name player, with Alonso still the most likely, and Benitez is refusing to let go of his dream to sign Gareth Barry. Even though the Villa man has returned to training it does seem impossible to believe he will start another game at the club given the comments he has made. It’s hard to think ill of the player as he was simply trying to further his career and after such dedicated service for a decade or so I think it’s only fair they allow him to leave, but only of course if they get the money they feel they deserve for their skipper. How much do Liverpool fans think they should pay for Barry?