Villa boss Martin O'Neill is to set a deadline for Reds in Barry Chase.

O'Neill has warned Liverpool he is ready to set a deadline for them to meet his valuation of want-away Aston Villa skipper Gareth Barry.

 

O'Neill insists Villa cannot continue to be at the "behest" of the Merseysiders, who have failed to offer the £18million he wants for the midfielder.  The former Celtic boss is aware he has to make plans for the new campaign and needs to know whether he will have Barry's services.

 

Already O'Neill is considering using the 27-year-old in tomorrow's Intertoto Cup clash with Odense BK.  But that would not make Barry ineligible to play in the Champions League if he moved to Anfield.

 

O'Neill who has rejected four bids for Barry from Reds counterpart Benitez, said: "It's been unfortunate.  We don't know where we stand at this minute.  Liverpool have not officially come back to us in any form of writing.  It is a really awkward position here at this minute.  At some stage or other there will have to be a timescale on it because we cannot just keep going on like this".

 

O'Neill is ready to consider Barry on Saturday even though he was the target of abuse from Villa fans during Tuesday's friendly at Walsall.

 

Meanwhile, Liverpool legend Alan Hansen has warned Benitez that signing wide players is more important than bringing Barry or Robbie Keane to Anfield.  Hansen said:

"They are getting closer but still need three or four players.  Gareth Barry would be a great acquisition but really they need wide players, a couple of full-backs and wingers".

 

Liverpool yesterday boosted their strike force by signing highly rates teenage striker David Ngog from PSG.  The 19-year-old has repeatedly been linked to the Reds in recent weeks and has signed a four-year contract.

 

Friday 25th July 2008