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O'Neill keen to keep Barry a Villan

15/04/2008

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is keen to offer Gareth Barry a new deal after Liverpool expressed an interest in the England international.

The Villa captain has attracted interest from Chelsea but Liverpool look ready to spend £12 million on the midfielder.

Speaking to the Birmingham Mail, the Villa boss said he had "no comment" to make over the speculation surrounding Barry's future away from the club but he did say that it did not surprise him.

"Gareth Barry has played brilliantly this season. There has been talk about Chelsea coming in, but who knows? A manager is usually the last one to find out about events," he explained.

"We are trying to keep our best players otherwise it is a pointless exercise."

O'Neill said the club wanted to hold a testimonial match for their skipper who has two years left on his current deal.

"Gareth is certainly one person we will want to sit down to talk to about a new contract. We would love to keep him here. He was unsettled two years ago when I came and said 'let's see how things go'," O'Neill explained.

He also revealed that Barry considered a move away from Villa because of a thirst for international football.

"Now he has played for England and cemented a place in that squad, which is fantastic. All we want to do here is build a better team than the one we have and we are in the throes of doing that," the Villa manager said.