O'Neill still wants Barry to stay

But Villa manager not pre-empting anything before window closes

Last updated: 20th August 2008

Gareth Barry Aston Villa

Barry: Still wanted

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Martin O'Neill concedes Gareth Barry's future is 'not completely resolved', but reiterated his wish to keep the Aston Villa captain.

Barry has been a long-term target for Liverpool, with Villa rejecting several offers from their Premier League rivals this summer.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez remains keen to sign the midfielder after admitting money is not the reason behind the failure to conclude a deal.

The England international's appearance for Villa in the Uefa Cup, rendering him ineligible for the UEFA Champions League group phase, has prompted suggestions a move will not go through before the transfer window closes.

O'Neill is wary about definitively confirming Barry will stay at Villa Park, but remains determined to hang on to his skipper.

Risk

"We want him to stay I think that's obvious," O'Neill said in the Birmingham Mail.

"I think the fans want him to stay and for the length of time it has gone on it is hard to pre-empt anything. At this minute it's not completely resolved."

The Villa manager's focus is now on improving his squad after admitting he gambled on the players he had at his disposal last season.

He added: "We realised last year we didn't have the numbers, but I decided in January that having been knocked out of the FA Cup that maybe with just the Premier League to go for we could just go on with the squad we had.

"It was a risk and it's not one we want to take again."