Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill claims Liverpool have made "an offer involving a mish-mash of nameless player exchanges" for Gareth Barry.Reports earlier on Friday had suggested Liverpool had made a £10million cash bid to try and lure Barry to Anfield from Villa Park.

But O'Neill has revealed the offer is far from straightforward and has also criticised the Reds for leaking news of the approach.

Barry, who has two years to run on his current contract, recently admitted he might have to consider his future at Villa as he wants to be challenging for honours at this stage of his career.

O'Neill told Villa's official website: "Gareth still has two years of his contract left to run and from my two years' experience of working with him, he's not one who would be wanting to break contracts lightly.

"Liverpool haven't made a straight cash offer. They've made an offer involving a mish-mash of nameless player exchanges.

"I'm particularly disappointed to hear that business is being conducted in public and I just want to be clear on this: we're trying to build a side here and we're not a feeder club.

"We want to be trying to challenge. At some stage we want to get to the position that this football club once held. That will demand an awful lot of effort. It will take a supreme effort and it will take very good players.

"I don't want to be in a position of letting really good players go. Gareth Barry is a really good player who still has two years left on his contract.

"I haven't discussed these things with him yet. At some stage obviously I will do. But the day before probably our most important game of the season is not the time to be discussing it."

Barry is high on the list of Rafa Benitez's summer transfer targets as he looks to build a squad capable of mounting a serious Premier League title challenge.

The England international midfielder's future has been the subject of speculation in recent weeks, with Chelsea also thought to be keen on his signature.

Reports suggest Scott Carson or Peter Crouch could be included in any deal between Liverpool and Villa.

Carson is currently on a season-long loan at Villa Park from Liverpool, while Crouch's future at Anfield is up in the air as he has struggled to hold down a place in the side this season.

It now remains to be seen if the two clubs can strike a deal, with O'Neill thought to be interested in bringing Crouch back to Villa Park.

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