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O'Neill looking for end to Barry saga

24/07/2008

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has called for an end to the transfer saga involving captain Gareth Barry's potential move to Liverpool.

Speaking to the Midlands club's official website, O'Neill said he would like to see a conclusion to the drawn-out deal one way or the other, with the player currently caught in limbo between Villa Park and Anfield.

Earlier in the summer, Reds boss Rafael Benitez said he would be targeting Barry during the current transfer window - which led to the Villa skipper requesting a transfer from his club.

And despite a public disagreement between O'Neill and Barry, the Villa boss has revealed he would still like to see the England midfielder at his club next season.

"Deep down we would all love him to stay at the football club," O'Neill said.

"We haven't heard back from Liverpool for some time and we're not exactly sure where we all stand.

"When people say people are in limbo, I don't think that applies to anybody more than ourselves. We don't know whether to move forward or not with it. It's a long-running saga and I wouldn't mind it ending one way or another.

"My preference - and hopefully I'm speaking for a lot of Villa fans, if not all of them - is that we would like Gareth to stay at the football club. That would be great because it will be hard to replace him."

O'Neill has also added to the speculation that Benitez has been told by the club's American owners that he must sell players to raise the capital for incoming transfers.

"We're not sure where Liverpool stand now," he continued.

"It was never mentioned before about them needing to sell some players before they bought - that was never in the system at all. But seemingly it must be part of it.

"The point is that this has been long running and we're looking to see it end one way or another."