O'Neill demands more for Barry

Villa boss slams Liverpool bid as 'unacceptable'

Last updated: 12th June 2008

aston villa martin oneill old trafford

O'Neill: Not happy with Liverpool

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Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has insisted he is only prepared to let Gareth Barry join Liverpool for the right price.

Villa rejected a third bid for the midfielder on Thursday, with the latest offer believed to be in the region of £15million.

Barry has told O'Neill he wants to join Liverpool in order to play UEFA Champions League football and boost his international prospects but the Villa boss will not be bullied into selling.

O'Neill said on the BBC: "Gareth and I had a little chat when he got back from holiday and he has said he would fancy going to Liverpool.

"That's obviously a big setback to us, but the offer from Liverpool is just not acceptable.

Frustration

"It's very frustrating. We finished sixth last year, he was a major part of that and he has been a splendid player for us for some considerable time."

O'Neill accepts that it will be extremely difficult to keep Barry as he realises star players will always be targeted by other clubs.

But he is still hopeful that Villa could challenge for a place in the top four of the Premier League without Barry.

"If Manchester United are having a struggle keeping hold of (Cristiano) Ronaldo, I guess the rest of us have a bit of trouble," he added.

"It's difficult (to break into the top four) but that's what you're in the game for. If it's without Gareth Barry, we'll still have a go."