Cash and Barry

Cascarino: City slick

The bottom line is that when it comes to pounds, shillings and pence a player is always going to be attracted to what is going to be a big pay packet every week.

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• Barry holds City talks

Tony Cascarino expects Gareth Barry to be the first of a host of players to jump ship to Manchester City this summer.

The England midfielder is currently in talks with City about a possible switch to Eastlands from Aston Villa.

Barry almost joined Liverpool last year but it appears as though City, now owned by the Abu Dhabi United Group, is the 28-year-old's preferred destination.

"Manchester City are going to spend big; they are doing their shopping early," Cascarino told Sky Sports News. "They are going straight after Gareth Barry and they'll probably go after a few more.

"Gareth Barry is attracted to what's going to be a very big spending time at Manchester City and thinks there is going to be a bright future there.

"The bottom line is that when it comes to pounds, shillings and pence a player is always going to be attracted to what is going to be a big pay packet every week.

"He thinks they can be successful obviously because the way Manchester City are approaching their business they are going to hit the ground running."

Risk

Barry joined Villa as a trainee in 1997, since when he has made over 400 appearances but Cascarino believes it is inevitable he will move on in the near future.

"He's only got one year left on his contract and for any player in that position it's not good for the club, the club can't afford to take a risk and allow him to go into next season then leave on a free transfer," he said.

"They've tempted him with a new contract but I think he's made it pretty obvious that he's not prepared to stay at Villa.

"He's been at Villa for 10 years - that's a long time for the modern day player. I think a lot of fans will respect what he's done for the club.

"Going back to Villa is not the course that is going to happen for him. I think he is straight to City. He'll be looking forward to seeing who will go with him.

"He's been made lots of promises about their spending power and who they are going to go after and how he fits into that Manchester City team. I think it will be done and dusted very, very quickly.

"Football is quite aware of what Manchester City are going to be about next year and footballers are no different- they are going to see that club as a major challenger in the next few years purely because money does buy very good players."

Decision

It remains to be seen whether Liverpool would be willing to match any fee that City are prepared to offer for Barry but Cascarino believes the lure of winning silverware with the Reds will not be enough to lure the player towards Anfield.

"Many moons ago Blackburn went and won the Premiership and they went and spent big on a lot of players very, very quickly," reflected Cascarino, who played for Aston Villa in 1990-91.

"That's only what Manchester City are going to do this summer; they are going to go after five, six, seven players - all top quality - and have a very good side there and I think Gareth Barry is attracted to that thinking that Manchester City will head in front of Aston Villa next season.

"He's got to make a decision (if Liverpool come in for him). That is a far bigger question for someone like him because Liverpool look like a side that is going to challenge for honours.

"Are Manchester City going to do that? Probably not, but they are going to challenge for a Champions League spot. It would be hard for Gareth Barry to ignore but City have got such spending power."