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Gerrard "desperate" for Liverpool to sign Villa's Barry

31/05/2008

Steven Gerrard says he is desperate for Liverpool to sign Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry.

The Reds skipper has been urging his club to invest heavily in players since the end of the Premier League season and strongly believes Barry is someone Liverpool should be targeting.

Recent speculation has linked Liverpool with an impending bid for Barry, though Aston Villa are keen to ward off any attempts to sign their star player.

Gerrard said: "I know all about Gareth, I am good friends with him off the pitch and I am desperate for us to sign him."

Villa have accused Liverpool of trying to unsettle Barry in an attempt to lure him to Anfield so Gerrard was keen not to escalate the war of words between the two teams.

He said: "We can't be disrespectful to Villa. He is still their player and we will see what happens.

"Naturally, they are going to try and keep hold of him, and rightly so because he is one of their star men. He has been a fantastic servant for them over many years."

However, Gerrard admitted that if Liverpool could capture Barry this summer he would certainly strengthen their title challenge next season.

"From a biased point of view, I want Gareth Barry to become a Liverpool player," said Gerrard.

"He is a good player. But I want Liverpool to be as strong as possible and Gareth Barry will certainly make us stronger."

Gerrard and Barry could be paired in the centre of England's midfield when they take on Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday.