Martin O'Neill says Aston Villa have written to Liverpool to propose a deal for Gareth Barry.
Liverpool are desperate to sign the Villa captain and last week saw a new bid of £15million rejected.
Villa have already turned down multiple offers from their Premier League rivals, with manager O'Neill valuing his skipper in the £18million bracket.
Reports suggest that O'Neill would be willing to accept £17million, plus Reds full-back Steve Finnan in part exchange.
O'Neill has not confirmed his interest in Finnan, but has revealed that a proposal has been put to his Liverpool counterpart Rafa Benitez.
"Liverpool have come back to us and we have responded to their proposal with a letter," O'Neill told the Birmingham Mail.
"We're still waiting to hear back from Liverpool after putting that proposal to them.
"It's really up to Liverpool. I really don't know how it's going to work out at the moment.
"I'm sure there will be some sort of resolution at some stage or another."
Meanwhile, Villa striker John Carew is 'sad' about the prospect of Barry leaving, but is hoping the club bring in a quality replacement.
"What is happening with Gareth is part of football," said Carew. "I don't think anyone is shocked, although you don't want to lose someone who was one of our best players last year and for all the seasons he has been at Villa.
"That is football and that's the way things work and now we are just waiting to see who comes in to replace him - but I think it will be a good player coming in.
"It is sad that Gareth is going, but I don't use much energy on it. I am focusing on the team we have here, the players we have here, and not all the surroundings."
Your Comments
corc
"crouch is worth 11 million yet played how many games last season?Barry has replaced one lampard in the england midfield and is in there ahead of both carrick and hargreeves and they both cost in the 18 million region.yeah man u paid way too much for both those players but thats the going rate.no argument here folks."
robbo32
"more shite from drunkenmaster i see,,,can be arsed going into detail about all his comments on benitez,but just to show him up on his point of benitez spitting his dummyand was told to wait 2 weeks bla bla,,,,this is complete bolloc*s,benitez was trying to get funds for a central defender as we were short from september when we lost agger,,and in my opinion he had a valid point,,he was then told by the americans to concentrate on coaching his team,and work with the personnel he had,,fair play to benitez for showing the yanks for what they are ,,ALL WIND AND NO P***,BIG PROMISES BUT NOTHING,,they promissed SPADES in the ground in 6 months,and as for the PRIVATE phone call,,it was actually done in email,,,,,,i do belive this is twice now ive pointed out your bulls**t drunkenmaster,arent you getting sick of being shown up by me,"
wewonit5times
"cmom gareth.. come be a robbing a scouse mug like the rest of us here hahaha must be hard to see your best player want to leave for the 5 time cl winners!!! as for drunken master on benitez... wind your neck in your talikng bubbles!"
SONofBOB
"Basko-A well thought out and lucid argument.Well done."
fcastonvilla
"Brucemole...can't you get that 2000 Cup Final out of your system? I suppose it is a big deal for you fellas beating Villa. Kudos to you for winning it!! That was the year the holders didn't even turn up to defend it and Villa didn't even start their engine. An awful game. Keep buying your way to matching our trophy count, son...you've still some way to go. AVFC1874 COF1888"
Ezy_Rider
"Certainly, you can be sure that if Benitez wants to buy, say, Micah Richards or Steven Taylor next summer, there'll definitely be a lot less tapping up in that instance - he may get his man this time but he's paying through the nose for it."
Ezy_Rider
"I would imagine the O'Neill proposal, contrary to ramping up the price, is likely to say that Liverpool's bid of Finnan + cash is acceptable, but it'll be tidying up the add-ons, payment plan etc etc. if anything. Given that MO'N wasn't keen on cash plus players in the first instance, it's unlikely that he'd take Finnan as part of a part-ex if he only thought he was worth £1m. "
basko
"Why anyone would want to become a dirty scouse is beyond me!!!! "
villalion
"cheers brucemole thats a compliment sayin were in 5th gear thats obviously better than neutral and now even u scousers r admitting were better than u. sign on, sign on, with a pen, in ur hand, and you'll never work again, you'll never work again"
SONofBOB
"15 mill plus Finnan seems a fair compromise.17 mill plus Finnan is taking the p***.The funny thing is that this drawn out fiasco is for a player that most supporters aren't all that bothered about.Ask most 'Pool fans and they'd probably say "Tell Villa to stick it,keep Xabi and concentrate on a wide player and a replacement for Crouchy who can complement Torres better".I wouldn't be upset if Barry came but is he good enough to be held to ransom over,particularly as he plays in an area of the pitch we are at our strongest?"
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