Liverpool look set to sign Gareth Barry after all as Aston Villa have agreed to give them until the end of August to finally wrap up the deal.Villa had hoped the Barry saga was over on Wednesday when Liverpool missed an agreed deadline to make an acceptable offer for the England midfielder.
But after a further meeting with the player and his agent, Martin O'Neill has reluctantly accepted that Barry's proposed switch to Anfield could now go ahead.
O'Neill said: "We had a meeting last Monday with Gareth and his agent at which we all agreed we would have a 5pm deadline on Wednesday and if Liverpool had not proved they had the wherewithal to proceed with the transfer then we would all leave that aside and go on with it.
"I was hoping that would be the case and this was not a matter of Liverpool missing a deadline by 15 minutes, as seems to have been reported.
"Liverpool first showed their interest in signing Gareth Barry almost four months ago, so this is not a case of missing the deadline by 15 minutes - that's simply not true.
"The following morning we were upbeat on the strength of what had happened on Wednesday evening. We were very buoyant and optimistic that everything could come back to normal again.
"That wasn't to be though. On Thursday there was a meeting between Gareth's agent, myself and the player.
"They still felt that even though the deadline had passed they still felt Liverpool were going to come in and do the deal.
"Obviously I was disappointed to hear that. Gareth's head is a bit all over the place at the moment and they asked for some more time."
He continued: "I listened to what they've said and I'll go with it - reluctantly but I'll go with it.
"There will be no deadline and Liverpool have all the time in the world now to sign Gareth Barry. They've got up to the normal window, which is the 31st of this month."
Barry, 27, had made it clear at the end of last season that he wanted to make the switch to Anfield to experience playing Champions League football and link up with his close friend Steven Gerrard, who was "desperate" for the move to materialise.
The player was subsequently booed by a section of the Villa support in their pre-season friendly at Walsall but received a standing ovation in their Intertoto Cup match against Odense.
O'Neill had hoped on Wednesday that after Liverpool failed to meet the deadline that the issue was "closed" but it appears Barry's camp have forced his hand.
The Villa manager has accepted that he does not want a player at the club whose heart is elsewhere and has decided to let the saga come to a conclusion by allowing the transfer to proceed.
"I have a football club to run and I really do want people who want to play for us," O'Neill told Villa's official website.
"Really it is up to them, Gareth and his agent to sort it out. I've decided this is the only way forward for us really.
"If Liverpool at their end of it all do not come up with the money, that's no-one else's fault but their own.
"I'd be delighted if that was the case and Gareth stayed. But I would doubt that very much. The ball is very much in their court."
More Football News from TEAMtalk
Comment 1 - 6 of 6
I'm A villa supporter... Was Carson worth £10mil? To Liverpool - yes to West Brom he was only worth £3.75mil. Did Liverpool intend to keep Carson? obviously not as they were willing to accept such a big reduction in fees. Were Liverpool trying to pull a fast one in the asking price? Possibly, but who in any business wouldn't try to get more money for something that they have, that someone else wants? thats business! what ever counter offer was forwarded by MON was not acceptable to Liverpool! so then the role is reversed... Is Gareth Barry woth £18mil? To Villa - yes. Would I keep Barry if that was an option? Yes - He's a good player. If it is dependant on him moving that Liverpool pay £18mil then thats what they have to do. Barry is our player until his contract expires. If Rafa wants him, then stump up the cash. It is not a hard equation to make if you want him, pay for him. Unlike the Carson affair, we want to keep Barry and knock Liverpool from that 4th spot. So theres no question of sour grapes or what is worth what, if you want him that badly pay the asking price. MON has been consistant in saying Barry in in his plans (for deposing Liverpool) so will not sell him for less that what he's worth to us. £18mil is approx £2mil more than losing out in the last 16 of the chapions league. So Liverpool are there but how far will they go, and how much further do you think you'll go if Barry is in the squad? if the answer is "all the way" which is what we hear all the time from the reds!!! (Sorry couldn't help that!) then Rafa should pay up as the Liverpool would get double that in revenues. if, as some predict, liverpool would only make the last 16 this year without Barry then the answer is again simple pay up and get the added revenues! YOUR CALL RAFA
hillsbourgh all of got to say !
Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-f ool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liv er-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool ,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver- fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Li ver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-foo l,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver -fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,L iver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fo ol,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Live r-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool, Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-f ool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liv er-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool ,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver- fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Li ver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-foo l,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver -fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,L iver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fo ol,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Live r-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool, Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-f ool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liv er-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool ,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver- fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Li ver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-foo l,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver -fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,L iver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fo ol,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Liver-fool,Live r-fool,Liver-foo
@ Villa32, well technically we don't need the money before we spend it, unlike Liverpool. And I suspect they can only buy him if they raise enough in sales of players. But I do get your point.
I'd rather Barry stayed, but if, as MON says, Barry has said his heart isn't in the club anyway, he can sod off.
As much as he's done for the club, the whole mess of this transfer has just tainted his association with the club. This is a prize example of how not to buy a player.
this it @#$% how the F**K are Villa going to be able to spend the money they receive from Liverpool if they intend to buy him towards the end of the month?
liverpool liverpool liverpool liverpool liv
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account