Rafa Benitez will contact Aston Villa with an improved
bid for Gareth Barry in a renewed attempt to land his main summer
transfer target. Villa manager Martin O'Neill rejected an initial
cash-plusplayers offer worth about £10million and vowed to talk
Barry into staying put.
But after hearing Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard go public on
his wish to replicate their England partnership at club level,
Barry will make it clear that he favours a move to Anfield. Benitez
is ready to apply further pressure to his Villa counterpart by
again offering him a choice of players and increasing the overall
package to about £15m.
The Liverpool boss is confident it will be enough to prise Barry
from Villa Park and install him alongside Javier Mascherano in an
anchor role that would give Gerrard licence to push forward.
Liverpool also hope to complete the signing of Udinese's left
back Andrea Dossena today. Benitez is aware he needs to generate
funds to finance his buying plans and is hopeful of recouping most
of his outlay on Barry by selling Xabi Alonso to Juventus,
following talks with the Serie A club this week.