Tuesday 2 June 2009

Gareth Barry in talks with Manchester City

Aston Villa have confirmed that midfielder Gareth Barry is holding discussions with Premier League rivals Manchester City. Barry has been the subject of widespread transfer speculation since his move to Liverpool collapsed last summer.

The fact that the club have personally announced this news via there official web site and no doubt various news agency’s, is obviously a statement of intent from Villa. Clearly Liverpool’s interest in the player is public knowledge, so this announcement holds a number of purposes. First it could spark a bidding war for the player who only has one year left on his contract. Liverpool where certain they could have signed Barry for a cut price deal. £8m was speculated in the press, a considerable reduction from the £18m valuation that was rejected as “not enough” by Villa last summer. However, Sky Sports News states this afternoon that Barry could move to Manchester City in a £11m deal. O’Neall himself stated recently that “He wouldn’t come cheaply even in this day and age," because the player was an England international, and still ‘only’ 28-years-old.

Barry gave the reason of wanting to play Champions League football when he handed in his transfer request last summer. Although having bags of cash at their disposal Manchester City finished tenth and could be considered a ‘step down’ from sixth place Villa who will be playing in the Europa League next summer.

With Sky Sports News having just announced that the player is undergoing a Medical with Manchester City, and that no other club has placed a bid for the player, this transfer saga could be finished before Liverpool even enter the race.

UPDATE:
City's official website has just posted the news that they have completed the £12m signing of Gareth Barry on a five year deal.

1 comment:

  1. Well hopefully Rafa will not sell Xabi to Real!!

    ReplyDelete