Barry Anfield move 'still on'

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has reluctantly conceded Gareth Barry may still move to Anfield.

O'Neill appeared to put an end to Liverpool's courtship of the Villa captain when he announced on Wednesday that the Reds had failed to make an acceptable offer by an agreed deadline.

But in an announcement on the club's website, O'Neill said he had held another meeting with the England player and his agent and there will be no more deadlines before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

The manager was quoted as saying: "We were very buoyant and optimistic that everything could come back to normal again.

"That wasn't to be though. On Thursday there was a meeting between Gareth's agent, myself and the player. They still felt that even though the deadline had passed they still felt Liverpool were going to come in and do the deal.

"Obviously I was disappointed to hear that. Gareth's head is a bit all over the place at the moment and they asked for some more time."

He added: "So I've listened to what they've said and I'll go with it - reluctantly but I'll go with it.

"There will be no deadline and Liverpool have all the time in the world now to sign Gareth Barry. They've got up to the normal window, which is the 31st of this month.

"So it's really up to them, Gareth and his agent to sort it out. I've decided this is the only way forward for us really.

"I have a football club to run and I really do want people who want to play for us.

"If Liverpool at the end of it all do not come up with the money, that's no-one else's fault but their own.

"I'd be delighted if that was the case and Gareth stayed. But I would doubt that very much. The ball is very much in their court."

Barry, 27, had made it clear at the end of last season that he wanted to make the switch to Anfield to experience playing Champions League football.

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