Barry staying at Villa

Villa end talks after deadline passes without agreement

Last updated: 30th July 2008

Barry staying at Villa

Barry: Staying with Villa

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Aston Villa have confirmed Gareth Barry is staying at the club and will not be joining Liverpool.

Barry has been a target for Liverpool throughout the summer, but the Premier League rivals have been unable to agree on a fee.

Liverpool have seen multiple bids for the England international rejected, with Villa reportedly wanting a sum in the region of £18million.

The midfielder had stated that he wanted to take up the opportunity to move to Anfield to play UEFA Champions League football.

He was critical of Villa boss Martin O'Neill and was also fined by the club before returning to pre-season training a fortnight ago, and then being booed by fans in a friendly against Walsall last week.

Deadline passed

Barry will now spend the new season in the Midlands after Villa revealed Liverpool did not meet the deadline to agree on a deal.

A statement on Villa's official website read: "This evening, Aston Villa can announce that Gareth Barry will be staying with the club following the interest from Liverpool over recent months.

"During discussions in the past few days, a final deadline to conclude this episode was set that all parties were aware of and agreed to.

"This deadline has now passed and so Gareth will remain with Villa."

Reds boss Rafa Benitez had admitted on Tuesday, following the signing of Robbie Keane from Tottenham Hotspur, that he would have to sell before being in a position to buy Barry.

However, Benitez will now have to look elsewhere for midfield reinforcements after Villa ended negotiations regarding a possible deal.

Comments (41)

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Dave Twee says...

Liverpool need a midfielder more so than a striker. Spending £20 mil on Keane is ridiculous. They need stop conceding goals which Barry may have prevented. I dont think Keane and Torres can score enough goals to compensate for the ones they ll concede. I feel a break in the top 4 this season, at the expense of Liverpool. Rafa is such a bad manager.

Posted 17:34 31st July 2008

Paul Lucas (Aston Villa fan) says...

Good news about Barry I think he will have an outstanding season now and we as villa fans really need to get behind Martin and the boys as much as we can!!!

Posted 16:54 31st July 2008

John Clarke says...

A few weeks ago Liverpool fans were saying they can't wait for Barry to arrive, now they are glad he's not comming! Never mind, one day Rafa may buy a player worth the money. So far all he has bought worth the fee is Torres. 5th place next season, behind Villa!

Posted 16:24 31st July 2008

Phil Mayne (Liverpool fan) says...

Why are people ignoring the fact that we all Know that Barry wants to join Liverpool and he will be at Anfield before the transfer window closes. Martin O'Neil is banning the player from the training ground one minute, the next he is relieved he is staying. No one has heard Barry say he wants to stay ???

Posted 16:23 31st July 2008

Joanne O'brien (Liverpool fan) says...

I feel sorry for Barry the poor guy wanted to join Liverpool but yet again Martin O'Neill was in the way. The only one to blame for this saga is Martin O'Neill. Everytime you look at internet, news paper and TV all you see is him trapping off about Liverpool not doing this & not doing that. What a stupid price tag to put on just because he has a captaincy for England (friendly trindad & ToBago). To the Villa fan Evans look at your own manager and what he has achieved since he took over NOTHING. Rafa is a good manager and has won a trophys. I think your Manager will be going at christmas. Are the Villa fans still going to disrespect Barry because he wants to go?? All i can Say Liverpool wants you mate.

Posted 16:21 31st July 2008

Bob Ryanson (Liverpool fan) says...

Okay, first of all, i know Liverpool is not a club that can get close to Chelsea Or Man Utd, because we dont even have the MILLIONS to spend on players. Look at chelsea spendings on players, easily a couple of 20 mils, like 3 seasons ago? Man Utd, 30 mil on one defender easily like 5 seasons ago? come on, the PL now is won by MONEY, MONEY to buy in players, to improve the squad. its a shame liverpool had to make do with "Sell and Buy" policy to challange the PL. Its never fair to say we are a weak team, blah blah. give us the money, and buy the right players. im sure we will win the league.

Posted 15:40 31st July 2008

Pavan Parashar (Manchester United fan) says...

PL standings will remain the same again for the 3rd year running. Liverpool and Arsenal just don't have the financial clout to make things happen, not that Barry would have turned the tide for them. Shame.

Posted 14:59 31st July 2008

David Chan (Liverpool fan) says...

Barry would have been a good addition to our team but not for £18m. he is over vauled just because he is English.Keane is worth £20m because he is an attacking whereas Barry is an utility player. We should stick with Alonso and spend the money on a quality winger/attacking midfielder. Like Silva, moutinho, quarsema, arshavin even or zhirkov. Also I think Barry wnt sign new contract with VIlla, so in a years he can come to us on a free bosman thats if he doesnt sign for another team before that happens.

Posted 14:40 31st July 2008

Adam Parsons (Liverpool fan) says...

Barry is a distinctly average player in a distinctly average, but well drilled, side. I, for one, nearly did a lap of honour round the living room when it was confirmed we wouldn't be wasting our cash on what would amount to a squad player and nothing more. Alonso and Mascher are 10 times the player he'll ever be. Why did we want him in the first place? I think maybe, JUST MAYBE, £10 million would have been a fair price.

Posted 12:39 31st July 2008

Dan Brown (Accrington Stanley fan) says...

Garreth Barry is not as good as the media make him out to be. A couple of good performances in an England shirt doesn't warrant 18mil!! He is playing at his level with Villa, Liverpool have 3 central midfielders who take him to the cleaners. AS for Villa being on the up I think it's a joke. An average club. As soon as their younger players get a little more experience a better club will come in and have them. They wont be able to turn down actually winning something! I'm not sure the UEFA Cup has a plate competition.

Posted 08:24 31st July 2008

Ana Adisa (Chelsea fan) says...

I really don't think Rafa really rated Barry so much that he spend £20m on Keane. His tactics was to unsettle the player and whole of Villa fan and team b4 the next season starts. Cos' he (Rafa) knows the time is up for Liverpool holding onto to the last champions league spot, teams like Villa, Portsmouth, Everton, Man city, Tottenham and even West Ham are big treat to him. It wouldn't be long b4 Rafa is sent packing and allow to walk alone. Come on Villa!!!

Posted 08:12 31st July 2008

Keith Green says...

Liverpool think they are a bigger club than Villa and can do what they want when they want. good on the Villa for not letting thease penny pinching small time nobodies think they can do what they like. the FA should investigate the way they deal with transfer's not just Barry ask any Spurs fan if the Robbie Kean saga was done right. they sold there sole for a few pieces of gold. Liverpool need to be stoped before they ruin the game.

Posted 08:08 31st July 2008

Peter Brock (Arsenal fan) says...

Central midfield is probably the area that Liverpool least need to worry about cover for. Though Barry is a quality player, could they really justify spending millions to upgrade from Alonso (who is a solid player himsef), when they have other positions that so desperately need reenforcement? In the end, I think Villa are better off for still having Barry (look what he did for them in their last friendly) and Liverpool are better off for still having a few million in the bank, to put towards a position that actually needs the help.

Posted 07:25 31st July 2008

Gareth Jones (Aston Villa fan) says...

Liverpool have just missed out on a great signing and one that I'm sure would have helped them close the gap on the top 2. Great news for Villa though. How can all these Liverpool fans criticise O'Neill? He set his price of £18m as soon as Barry said he wanted to leave, and stuck to his price. Why should he then lower his price just becaue Liverpool cant afford him? Those commenting that he cant handle big transfers should realise that he won. Barry's staying which is exactly what O'Neill and every Villa fan wanted from the start! Bottom line is that Liverpool aren't such a big club as you like to think!! Without GB they're still a long way off Man utd + Chelsea and should be watching over your shoulder's for the likes of Villa, Everton and Tottenham who are catching up fast!

Posted 07:20 31st July 2008

Phil Alonso (Liverpool fan) says...

Thank God for this! I didn't want Barry in the first place. I'd rather have Alonso over Barry any day. It makes no sense to sell Alonso for £14M then buying Barry for £18M. We'd have lost £4M and a quality midfielder who is miles better than Barry. Thank God we didn't meet the deadline.

Posted 07:15 31st July 2008

Dominic Ngai (Arsenal fan) says...

Why Liverpool and Villa not considering Alonso + Steve Finnan for Barry ? That way, Liverpool doesn't need to raise cash. Barry is happy. Villa gets the same quality player back with more defense and avoid gettin stuck with an unhappy player. As to Alonso and Steve..not sure.. the latter is a fringe player anyway.

Posted 06:40 31st July 2008

Bd Condell (Manchester United fan) says...

It amazes me that Benitez has had to sell before he can buy. I assumed he would have 40-50 million for 3 years so he could build the team he needs. If this is it in the transfer market for Liverpool I don't see them seriously challenging this year.

Posted 06:36 31st July 2008

Oliver Harding (Arsenal fan) says...

He's coming to Arsenal.

Posted 06:20 31st July 2008

Justin Lewis (Aston Villa fan) says...

The price was 18 million pretty much from the beginning. That is what it would cost to replace a player like Barry, assuming we could get one. At no stage has MON acted unreasonably in my view. Why should he sell???? Barry is under contract, and so has at least some obligation to Villa. If the best players just keep joining the Champions League clubs for the glory, what hope is there for the Premiership? This is a win for everybody except Liverpool. I can see Villa finishing above Liverpool this season (Although maybe below Spurs. Grrrr!)

Posted 06:18 31st July 2008

Kit Chaner (Liverpool fan) says...

I think Barry is too expensive if they are talking about it is 20 million. By the way, there are many other good option mid-field such as Aimar, Var de Vaart etc. But firstly, I think they should concern about their defence line. Since they always have problem once they face to the strong team such as Man U, Chelsea etc.

Posted 05:34 31st July 2008
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