Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill still has has no idea if Gareth Barry will be at the club next season.
In one of the longest running transfer sagas of the summer the England international had been expected to complete a big-money move to Liverpool.
However, despite tabling numerous bids, the Reds have failed to match Villa's valuation of their skipper and appear to have cooled their interest in the 27-year-old.
O'Neill concedes that negotiations between the Premier League rivals have stalled and has not ruled out the possibility of Barry remaining at Villa Park next term.
"We haven't heard back from Liverpool," he told Sky Sports News.
"We asked them for some written confirmation for something that was put to them at the time, which they asked for, but we haven't heard back.
"I don't know what their position is, whether their chase for other players has overtaken everything, but it's preventing us from getting on and we want it sorted as soon as possible.
"But if it means Gareth remaining as an Aston Villa player then that's something I wouldn't be too unhappy about."
O'Neill refused to set a timescale in which he wants the matter resolved, but admitted that the sooner it is sorted the better it will be for all concerned.
"I'm loath to put down markers early on and then find out that we're unable to meet them," he added.
"But at some stage we do have to know, and the player will want to know his port of call.
"If Liverpool are unable to do it then the sooner they let us know the better."
O'Neill also refuted suggestions that he had fielded Barry in a friendly date against Walsall on Tuesday, where the midfielder was roundly booed, in an attempt to humiliate him in front of the club's supporters.
"First of all Gareth wanted to play in the game against Walsall and I don't think anyone was setting out to humiliate him in the game," said O'Neill.
"He's in the right frame of mind and he'll be in the squad for the game tomorrow (against Odense in the Intertoto Cup).
"He's our player. A fortnight ago we were shunning him and now we're being criticised for playing him a game in which he wanted to play."
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Comment 1 - 10 of 10
2 ways to deal w/ Barry I think: 1. let him rot in the reserve till his contract expires or fine him 2 weeks wages every month - hurt him where it hurts best.
OR
2. He comes out publicly to apologise to all Villa related beings (President to the ball boy) and also pulicy denouces Liverpool as a team that he regrets showing interest in.
Then we will accept Barry back as a player with the respect he deserves.
Rafa has some cheek! He wanted 10 million for Carson from Villa and then sell him for 4 million to West Brom. Then he has the neck to complain that Villa are asking to much for Barry......Rafa is a cheeky monkey me thinks.
PS..Isn't it very embbarassing for player when they say they want to leave and then have to stay......I think the fans should boo Barry for his lack of respect and loyalty to the club. I also hope Ronaldo get booed and any other greedy footballer that is willing to prostitute themselves.
while i dont understand why barry is rated a better player than Alonso, i can understand why his head is been turned by firm interest from a top club. the same thing happened with carrick. who wouldn't want to play for a club thats going to further your ambitions? just because a team puts a price tag on your head, doesn't necessarily mean your that good, or thats what your worth... but if a team is willing to meet that price, let them pay, only time will tell if its a good investment. personally, the 10 million we paid for Alonso was a very good investment, 18 million for barry? whats he got that Alonso doesn't?
original.image: I suggest that your comment is highly exaggerated. Liverpool is more than Gerrard and Torres, just like ManU is more than Ronaldo and Rooney. You have a point: Rafa placed too high price tags on his players; I can agree to that as a Liverpool fan. But he is certainly no bad trainer - you cannot deny that he has had big success with the Reds, and more is to come. I like him because he brings in young talent (Babel, Mascherano) and wants to work there long-term. It's very different to Barca or Chelsea who sack good trainers just like that. Don't you agree? And, lastly, Martin O'Neil is a very good trainer - I respect him a lot for what he has done with the players he's got. I am sorry that the bigger clubs buy his players, but Villa is not on the top level (yet?). Good luck to Villa, too, may the best win, and the top four be worthy of Champions League football.
All this football politics is about bargaining a few millions on either side. Liverpool are unwilling to pay 18, Villa are unwilling to accept 15. Nobody knows what will happen, my guess is, he will stay at Villa. Alonso is our man!
it is good that gareth barry is feeling the heat. players just think that they can just walk away just like that after being turned arround by their clubs and as if that was not enough, you abuse your club and coaches and expect to get away with it bcos you thought that whatever happens, liverpool will pay. anyway, there are many solutions to it. one of it is to address a press conference and appollogise to the club and fans and pledge his life to the club otherwise i am sorry GB! carry your load.
keep barry, would not get into spains reserve squad 20 million joke
All Gareth Barry is guilty of is being naive, Liverpool made the first approach through Steven Gerrard and the thing has been hyped out of all proportion by the media. Benitze thought he could steal Barry from Aston Villa on the cheap, at the same time selling us Carson at an inflated price of £10 million. What a joke, the fact of the matter is Villa have plenty of Cash, the last 2 seasons MON has had a war chest which he has not spent on players that were not good enough. I suspect however that Liverpool are the potless ones caught bluffing at the table. Rafa got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Look at Curtis Davies, Villa have still bought him even though injured. i would trust a Club with integrity who can afford to give the Acorn Children's Hospice a sponsorship deal worth Millions over 2 feuding American owners and a manager who will be on his bike this session.
Liverpool have no money, mounting debts, the current owners are a disgrace to a once proud club. If Gerard or Torres get injured this season they are at best a journeyman team with a mediocre manager. Good luck LUFC you are going to need all the luck you can get not to become a Leeds Unitied
1st Mr M O,Neill. In my opinion is a proper and genuine football person? 2 Gareth Barry has brought this antagonism from the VILLA fans upon himself? whilst still under contract to VILLA, he stood in front of the media, and expressed his wishers to leave the club. In my opinion that did not show loyalty, to his employers, or (anybody) else for that matter? where are GBs ethics morals ect? In my opinion he is a TURNCOAT? 3rd Mr O,Neill, on this rare occasion i have to dissagree with you, GB is not worth 18mill? Hold on to him if possible, he blossoms at VILLA, and also in the ENGLAND shirt, at ANFIELD??? 4th Mr Bentize do we want players of this character at our club? G Barry might turn on you one day? 5th and finally folks, I am going down to my local now to have a bucket ops, i mean a pint, and i might have another to celebrate the forthcoming season. bring it on, BEST WISHERS TO ALL TRUE SUPPORTERS, AND PLAYERS. PS LFC supporter,
Why doesn't O'Neil stop moaning and get on buying the twelve plus players he needs to compete in the premier league or maybe he needs the money from Barry's sale to finance anybids he wants to make.
ajcar1
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