Aston Villa set to risk losing Gareth Barry for nothing
MARTIN O’Neill insists Villa are in no hurry to cash in on Gareth Barry and will try to coax the England midfielder into staying for one more season – even if it means losing him for nothing.
The Villa boss has revealed that talks with Barry and his representative Michael Standing over a lucrative £80,000-a-week deal and a testimonial are progressing “amicably”.
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Liverpool want to sign Barry but Rafa Benitez wants to play him at left-back or left-midfield in World Cup year, which is not ideal.
Tottenham are expected to mount a push for Barry in their quest to break into the Champions League and there is likely to be interest from elsewhere in the upper echelons of the Premier League, including from Arsenal and Manchester City.
O’Neill will honour his pledge not to stand in Barry’s way should he wish to end his 11-year stay at Villa.
But he clearly believes there is hope of keeping him for at least another season.
“I have had very amicable discussions with Gareth’s new agent. There has been no hidden agenda by any stretch of the imagination,” said O’Neill.
