O'Neill accepts Barry could still join Liverpool ， 描述： from soccernet

nesta0013

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has revealed that Gareth Barry's move to Liverpool is back on after a meeting with the player and his representatives.

The England international can now move to Anfield as soon as Villa's £18million valuation is met.

Earlier in the week it had appeared that Barry would be staying at Villa Park after a 5pm deadline on Wednesday was passed without a deal being concluded, with reports stating it had been missed by a matter of minutes.

But O'Neill has revealed that the player and his agent Alex Black sought a meeting with O'Neill and chairman Randy Lerner the following morning demanding that the transfer be resurrected.

And O'Neill has now decided to show the door to a player he regards as having gone back on his word.

He said: 'I met with Gareth, his agent and the chairman last Monday and we agreed a 5pm deadline. It was not a coercion, it was an agreement. We felt the situation needed to be resolved and Gareth and his agent agreed with this.
'Liverpool made their first intention of signing Gareth clear four months ago and they have known for some time that Gareth wanted to go and what the price was.

'It was not a case of Liverpool being 15 minute late for a deadline, that was simply not true. The position was clear before the deadline that they were unable to do anything before that stage.

'So because of that we at the football club were naturally delighted - we were thinking that that was it because we had the prior agreement of Gareth and his agent.

'Unfortunately the following morning Gareth and his agent came in to say that even though the deadline had passed it was not really.

'They felt, seemingly, that Liverpool could still do the deal.

'I was obviously very disappointed that that was still part of the scenario still going forward.

'I gave it some thought and realised that at the end of it all there was little point in pretending. Gareth would want to join Liverpool and therefore there would be no deadline.

'I have agreed with Gareth now that Liverpool have got all the time in the world if they want to raise the money.

'That's the case. That's it. It is up to Liverpool, Gareth and his agent now. The ball is firmly in Liverpool's court, that's fine, not a problem.

'I have got to get on with things. I have got to manage a football club and I want to manage one where some players still want to be part of it.

'The chairman and myself are particularly disappointed but that's the way it is.

'Liverpool will get their wish and Gareth and his agent will get their wish at some stage between now and whenever it is.'

O'Neill made it clear he was not intending to drop the price to speed up the deal however, especially as Liverpool had managed to rustle up £18million to buy Robbie Keane from Spurs.

He said: 'It seems they can find money for another player who wasn't in the equation certainly four months ago and certainly two months ago.'

Barry refused to comment after spending all 90 minutes of Villa's 1-1 friendly draw at Reading on the bench.
He said: 'I have been told not to say anything.'