GWistooshort

I imagine this is based on the journo's opinion that Barry will stay at Villa, which as we know is O'Neill's desired outcome - therefore he has handled it brilliantly. Barry may end up staying at Villa, but as this morning's papers show it's far from certain. We will know who has handled it brilliantly when there is a final outcome in the Barry transfer saga. Unless this journo is privy to some inside info it's far too early to call now IMO.

Or could it be that he's bitter at not being chosen to manage us? It was a major cause of Mourinho's bitterness as he was interviewed by Parry & Moores after Houllier left, but they chose Rafa instead. Not sure if O'Neill has ever been interviewed for the job though, although as Strachan was it's likely he might have been.

There's also a good Shanks article/interview in The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jul/28/liverpool

Transfer news/speculation from this morning's papers......... Gareth Barry "will continue to press for a move to Liverpool" & his personal view "has not changed despite a much more conciliatory position from the club's fans & the Villa manager, Martin O'Neill" & talk of a new contract to keep him at the club. But there has been no discussion with Barry of a new contract or a potential clause allowing him to leave next summer if Villa fail to improve on last season's performance, which O'Neill suggested could happen. Barry "will not sign a fresh contract & will forgo the promise of a testimonial because he is so set upon a move away from the club". Barry & Liverpool "are hopeful that talks between the two clubs will move forward this week" with "personal circumstances around the player & his advisers meaning that no talks were planned for last week". Barry & his advisers "are confident that they have not been left marooned" by Liverpool, despite the Reds turning their attention to signing Robbie Keane. Barry "is still grimly resolved that he has to be playing for a Champions League team next season" "at Liverpool or, failing that, at Arsenal". http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...ome-878739.html O'Neill said that Barry's testimonial, which was going to have taken place next Saturday, but was cancelled after he told the club he wanted to join Liverpool & which could earn Barry over £1m, could go ahead in the future, if Barry were to stay. "If anybody deserves a testimonial, it's Gareth Barry, having had a 10-year service at this club," O'Neill said. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/...erToto-Cup.html O’Neill will sit down this week with Barry & offer him a new contract that gives him a 50% pay rise to about £70,000 a week & "will also stipulate that he can leave at a reduced price next summer". http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4413169.ece The new contract offered to Barry will allow him to leave next summer if Villa "fail to make the top 4 [this season]" as well as awarding him a pay rise from £47,000 to £70,000 a week. However, Barry "is unlikely to be rushed into signing a new deal as he will be able to buy himself out of his final year for just £2m". http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...15875-20674456/ Barry's transfer to Liverpool "looked doomed to failure last night" with Liverpool maintaining they will not meet Villa's asking price of £18m & O'Neill to hold talks with Barry this week about a new 4-year deal that could increase his pay to £60,000 a week, promises him a lucrative testimonial & also guarantees that he leave next summer if Villa fail to advance on last season's 6th-place Premier League finish. Although Liverpool are prepared to sell Xabi Alonso to raise the funds to help sign Barry "there have been no takers, with no one willing to meet Liverpool's £16m valuation". Robbie Keane "will undergo a medical today" & his £20m move "may be completed in time for the forward to make his debut for his boyhood heroes in Liverpool's friendly in Spain against Villarreal on Wednesday". Liverpool have offered Keane a 5-year contract worth £80,000 a week & "negotiations continued throughout the weekend after Tottenham reluctantly agreed to sell Keane...on Friday evening". http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/ju...villa.liverpool Keane's transfer to Liverpool is "expected to move another step nearer when he undergoes a medical today". Phillip Degen require surgery on a groin strain sustained during the team’s pre-season training camp in Switzerland last week & "with Alvaro Arbeloa’s Anfield future uncertain, it could persuade Benitez into keeping hold of Steve Finnan". http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21415819/ Keane is "expected at Liverpool today for a medical to seal his £20m move" after Liverpool "thrashed out a deal over the weekend". Keane "will sign a 5-year contract worth £90,000 a week" & will wear the No. 7 shirt. With Philipp Degen facing a groin operation & Alvaro Arbeloa keen to return to Spain for personal reasons Rafa has checked on defender Rafinha. http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/4544...-Kop-star-Keano Real Madrid will turn to David Villa, whom Rafa has said is on Liverpool's list of potential striking targets, in a £30m deal that will end their interest in Cristiano Ronaldo. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/g...ers/7528100.stm

Note to self: Must wake up earlier next Sunday

Transfer news/speculation from today's papers............ Robbie Keane "has agreed to a five-year deal [with Liverpool] believed to be worth £80,000 a week. He will travel to Anfield tomorrow for his medical, allowing Liverpool to unveil the player before the squad fly out to Spain for pre-season games on Tuesday. Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, has secured the striker he believes has the "game intelligence" to best complement the talents of striker Fernando Torres." Keane's sale "will allow Spurs to pursue David Villa", whom Valencia value at £25m & whom Rafa has admitted is on Liverpool's list of potential striking targets. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/...ague-spree.html Man Utd are exploring other possibilities to Dimitar Berbatov, with David Villa one of those "under consideration". http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4407074.ece Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill said yesterday “Having not heard anything from Liverpool for some time it is clear we value him [Gareth Barry] more than they do. The fact they have not answered us for a week sends out a real message. We obviously don’t want him to go, so the price we are asking is a fair and realistic one for a player who is so good. In fact I think it is really cheap. My own view is that he should hang around for another year and see if we can make further progress as he would want. Gareth is still only 28 next year - if we don’t get where he wants to go, everybody would wish him well." http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21414011/ Liverpool "do not appear to have the funds available to make the Barry deal happen". http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4407223.ece There has been "no fresh interest [in Barry] from Liverpool, who look to have spent their remaining funds on Keane". http://www.birminghampost.net/midlands-bir...65233-21412753/ "Barry is getting restless as he was led to believe he was Liverpool's transfer priority this summer". http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...15875-20671790/ Xabi Alonso will meet Rafa tomorrow "for crunch talks over his future" after Rafa was away on Friday "tying up the club's £18m signing of Spurs' Robbie Keane". Fenerbahce & Atletico Madrid have made "tentative enquiries" about Alonso, although Arsenal are "manoeuvring themselves into the box seat to secure his services". Gareth Barry's "heart remains set on a move to Anfield and that deal is all but done". Jermaine Pennant's move to Blackburn "is at a similar stage" & Blackburn will pay £4m, rising to £6m, for Pennant. Liverpool have received a £6m bid for Alvaro Arbeloa. Andriy Voronin is wanted by a host of German clubs. http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/tm_...-name_page.html Sunderland may make an offer for £12m-rated reported Liverpool target Stewart Downing after their summer-long chase for Celtic's Aidan McGeady is "seemingly doomed to failure". Boro have repeatedly said they don't want to sell Downing, who has also attracted interest from Everton, Spurs & Villa, but the signing of Marvin Emnes, who can operate on either flank, "could make them think again". "A move to Sunderland and the chance to remain in the North East could appeal to Downing." Sunderland have "the cash to make both Boro and Downing an offer that could be hard to refuse". http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...15875-20673538/ The possible sale of Alvaro Arbeloa could raise £4m, which "may spark renewed interest in Brazilian Rafinha". It may also result in the shelving of plans to sell Steve Finnan to raise additional transfer funds, which were looking doubtful anyway as Phillip Degen is suffering from a groin strain which may require an operation. http://blogs.notw.co.uk/sport/2008/07/finnan-deal-on.html Balckburn & Spurs "are set to agree a fee" for David Bentley, which "will dash Liverpool's hopes of landing him". Robbie Keane "is on the verge of a move to Liverpool". http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/tm_...-name_page.html

From the Birmingham Mail today.............. "Liverpool are believed to be trying to include Ukranian striker Andriy Voronin in a cash-plus-player deal [for Gareth Barry]. [Villa boss Martin] O’Neill added: “The player, I know at this minute, feels Liverpool is his port of call as it were but if Liverpool are unable to do it, the sooner they let us know the better.” O’Neill says Barry’s comments to a Sunday newspaper have not soured their relationship. “Gareth didn’t annoy me. The comments he made, I don’t think are wildly important at the end of the day”, he said. “Managers and players’ relationships are obviously important at football clubs but equally important are the people who pay the money. “I don’t think the Aston Villa supporters would’ve been too enamoured with some of the comments attributed to him but I don’t think that’s the point. “If they’re willing to forgive and forget those things, it’s alright by all of us.” http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-s...97319-21408753/

"Despite interest from Atletico Madrid and Fenerbahce, Liverpool have not received any new bids" for Xabi Alonso. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...15875-20671809/

Transfer news/speculation from this morning's papers............... Robbie Keane is "due to undergo a medical & complete his £18m move" from Spurs "early next week", casting "further doubt over [Liverpool's] ability to pay Aston Villa a similar figure for Gareth Barry". Rafa was absent from Melwood yesterday & "was believed to be busy finalising the Keane deal, which could rise to £20m if Liverpool win either the Premier League or Champions League during his time at Anfield". However Rafa "is not giving up the chase for Barry & still hopes to raise the money by selling players or persuading the club to release more funds". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...d-20m-deal.html Liverpool are "putting the finishing touches" to the deal for Keane, who "is expected to undergo a medical early next week to finalise his transfer". The fee "could ultimately rise to £20m given the add-ons & incentives that have been negotiated". With Keane’s signature "almost secured", Rafa "will now turn his attention to bringing a successful conclusion to the Gareth Barry transfer saga". http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21408855/ "All the signs are" that Keane's move "is imminent — possibly over the weekend or early next week". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...teve-Davis.html Barry "fears that he is slipping down the pecking order of Liverpool’s transfer targets". Villa boss Martin O’Neill said yesterday “I assume if you ask him, his preference is still to go to Liverpool. Things can change. If Liverpool are looking at other targets, in other positions, which were not previously mentioned, that might come as a bit of a shock to people”, but when asked about the possibility that Barry might stay at Villa he said “I wouldn’t start to get carried away”. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4403257.ece O'Neill also said "I'm loath to put down markers [ie set a deadline] early on and then find out that we're unable to meet them. But at some stage we do have to know, and the player will want to know his port of call. If Liverpool are unable to do it then the sooner they let us know the better." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3865307,00.html Spurs "are believed to be lining up a 2nd attempt to sign David Villa", who Rafa has said is on Liverpool's list of potential striking targets, "despite having their 1st approach rejected out of hand". Valencia "were hoping to offload others in order to hold on to Villa", but "with no deals forthcoming it appears they may have to cash in on the 26-year-old & Spurs are ready to pounce with an improved bid". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...avid-Villa.html Spurs "are believed to have revived their interest in Villa", but face competition from Real Madrid, who are considering a £32m move for Villa if they don't buy Christiano Ronaldo. Reported Liverpool target Rafael van der Vaart "has a clause in his contract allowing him to move for around £800,000 next summer". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/...ams-sights.html Villa's agent said yesterday "David likes London and likes how Tottenham play with Juande Ramos. This is a club that excites him." He said Spurs have not made an offer for Villa, but if they did he is "convinced" Valencia would consider it. Valencia's owner, Vicente Soriano, yesterday admitted: "We cannot assure people that we will not have to sell one of our stars". Spurs could make an offer for Villa "within days" with Robbie Keane is "expected" to complete a move to Liverpool & "a deal in the region of £18m could be concluded this weekend". http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/ju...r.premierleague Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen "has warned Newcastle he will leave on a Bosman free transfer at the end of the season unless they improve their contract offer [to him]". http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/ju...d.premierleague Man Utd are to pay £32m-£35m to make Carlos Tevez's move permanent. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/ju...d.premierleague http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...35m-877898.html

Transfer news/speculation from the rst of this morning's papers................... Gareth Barry "could yet stay at Aston Villa next season" & Villa are "concerned" that Liverpool "will make their decisive move for Barry only at the very end of August". The "indication" from Spurs is that they are "close to an agreement with Liverpool" on a deal for Keane worth roughly £18m, which "will do nothing for the poor relations between Benitez and O'Neill" as it is the same value as Villa's valuation of Barry, but Keane is 1 year older than Barry. The fee for David Ngog "could rise to £4m depending on what he achieves at the club". http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...ine-876726.html Keane is "set to complete a transfer to Liverpool within the next 48 hours" after being left out of the Spurs' squad for a pre-season friendly last night. He is "expected to put pen to paper on a £18 million deal over the weekend", with the transfer now "a fait accompli". Unless Liverpool "can find a club willing to part with £16m for Alonso, then it looks as though Barry may have to remain at Villa Park, at least until the next transfer window reopens in January". It "appears" that Arbeloa will be departing "due to unspecified personal reasons". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/...l-transfer.html Liverpool "appear to be closing on the signing of Keane". Villa boss O'Neill said yesterday that Liverpool had not responded to a letter sent more than 2 weeks ago which outlined Villa's demands. O'Neill's latest comments "suggest he is ready to break off all talks with Liverpool if there is no indication that an £18m offer will be forthcoming". Liverpool have "insufficient funds to complete both deals [barry & Keane] unless players are sold". "With each day that passes the likelihood of Barry starting the season as their [Villa's] player increases" although "that prospect will not appeal" to Barry. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/ju...villa.liverpool Keane's transfer to Liverpool "moved closer last night" with Spurs "resigned to selling" & Liverpool "hoping to conclude an £18m deal this weekend". Rafa "has been told that there are insufficient funds to proceed with deals for his two principal targets [Keane & Barry]" & Barry's transfer "is on the back burner while Benítez looks for a club willing to offer him £16m for Xabi Alonso". The situation "should become clearer today, when Alonso returns to pre-season training". "If Alonso insists on staying, Benítez may be forced to drop his interest in Barry, at least until January. That would allow him to concentrate on signing Keane and a left winger, although, unless further funds can be raised by selling players such as Jermaine Pennant and Andriy Voronin, the emphasis would be on mid-price options such as Stewart Downing, of Middlesbrough, James Milner, of Newcastle United, and Albert Riera, of Espanyol." "It emerged yesterday that [Arbeloa] plans to return to Spain for personal reasons". http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4393583.ece Godwin Antwi has joined Tranmere on loan. http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N...080725-1044.htm Blackburn "would certainly be interested" in Jermaine Pennant, whom Liverpool are ready to let leave, as a replacement for Spurs-bound David Bentley, but wouldn’t be prepared to go much higher than £4m. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...er-Pennant.html Man City say they haven't had any enquiries for midfielder Michael Johnson, who is yet to sign a new contract, & is attracting interest from Liverpool, Everton & Spurs. Man City boss Mark Hughes has said he "very much" wants Johnson to stay and hopes they can resolve the contract negotiations "very quickly". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...hnson-club.html Hamburg say they have rejected Real Madrid's £5.5m offer for reported Liverpool target Rafael van der Vaart. http://www.skysports.com/football/transfer...0,14896,00.html

Transfer news/speculation from this morning's Liverpool Daily Post................ Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill "has warned Liverpool he is ready to set a deadline for them to meet his [£18m] valuation of Gareth Barry". http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21398757/ Robbie Keane "edged nearer a move to Liverpool last night" after being left out of the Spurs' squad for their latest pre-season friendly. Liverpool are "confident that a deal can be brokered in the coming days". Keane is "desperate to complete the switch to Merseyside". http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21403580/ Xabi Alonso will hold talks with Rafa today "to clarify his future". Alvaro Arbeloa is "likely to leave Anfield in the near future" as he is "understood to want a return to his homeland for personal reasons". "Liverpool should have no problems in cashing in on the defender, whose stock is at an all-time high following his part in helping Spain win the European Championships last month." New signing David Ngog is "expected to challenge for a first-team place". Rafa is allowing Sebastian Leto to go out on a season long loan with the player revealing he is close to agreeing a move to Olympiakos. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21403408/

O'Neill has also said "we're not sure where Liverpool stand now. 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." http://www.birminghampost.net/midlands-bir...65233-21397144/

It's available on the official site now http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/features/th...080724-1204.htm Definitely worth reading

Yes it's a combination of spending not alot & free signings

Looks like a gem to me

Correct

Quotes from Rafa the other day.............. "We will continue looking for good players but not necessarily a ‘proper’ winger. We’ll look for good players and maybe adjust the system. Don’t forget, we have some very good players here already, players we have signed over the last 12 months." "We knew we were creating a lot of chances last season but everybody was talking about the wide areas," he says. "If you go to the market and want to sign a top-class right-winger, they will be in the top sides and the price will be crazy. To sign two full-backs with an offensive mentality can give us more quality out wide." The article, from the Liverpool Daily Post, also says that "Benitez admits the high cost of bringing recognised top-class wingers to the club had forced Liverpool to be creative in the market." http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21324777/

Transfer news/speculation from this morning's papers.................. Robbie Keane is "expected to complete his move from Tottenham Hotspur this week for a deal that could ultimately reach up to £20m". http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21394201/ Spurs "fully expect" to sell Keane to Liverpool once the fee "or 'compensation' as the aggrieved club now refer to the payment" can be agreed. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...way-875659.html Rafa returned from the club's trip to Switzerland "intent on finalising" Keane's transfer & he is "also hoping to bring to an end the saga of Gareth Barry's move from Aston Villa". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...-firepower.html Liverpool & Villa "remain at loggerheads" over Barry, with Villa demanding £18m straight cash for the midfielder. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/g...ers/7522743.stm Steven Gerrard's cousin, Walsall defender Anthony Gerrard who played for his club against Barry in a recent friendly, said after the match “I know Steve would like Gareth Barry to join him. They are good friends and they got on whenever they join up together with the England squad". http://www.birminghampost.net/midlands-bir...65233-21392430/ The Daily Mirror says Blackburn boss Paul Ince is hoping to sign Jermaine Pennant as a replacement for David Bentley, who is likely to join Spurs. http://www.skysports.com/football/papertal...3,12709,00.html

Launched on 14 August, but available for pre-order from today onwards from the official site

Yes - the Birmingham Mail yesterday said Villa are looking for a right-winger & Pennant is a "possibility" along with James Milner & Aaron Lennon http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-s...97319-21382475/

It's from page 2 of the same Liverpool Daily Post article (linked there) that Rafa's quote is from. I didn't mean it to look like it was from Rafa (which it does). Where the same snippet of info has quotes from a person & from the article I normally put "the article/name of paper says", but forgot on this occasion. Apologies for the confusion.

Transfer news/speculation from this morning's papers................. Rafa said after the Hertha Berlin game last night "We are working hard to bring in new players. We will see what happens over the next few days". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/...ols-attack.html Liverpool "expect" deals for David N'Gog & Robbie Keane to be completed "later this week". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/...el-Benitez.html Rafa also said after the Hertha game “We have a young player [whom the Liverpool Daily Post say is N’Gog] and hopefully it will be done tomorrow". Keane's move from Spurs "is just waiting to be rubber-stamped having already been agreed last week". http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21387556/ Aston Villa "took their brinkmanship with Liverpool to a new level when they asked Gareth Barry to risk injury and his prospective move to Anfield by playing for the reserve team away to Walsall last night". Villa boss Martin O’Neill has "sent out a message to Liverpool that, until they are willing to pay his asking price, Barry must be prepared to play and run the inherent risks". "The most likely scenario, however, is that Barry has played his last game for Villa and O’Neill has simply taken a parting opportunity to demonstrate who is boss." http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4381147.ece Barry's appearance last night "is expected to be his Villa swansong, as the Reds prepare a fifth bid of about £16million and Steve Finnan". http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...15875-20662898/ "Channels of communication remain open between Villa owner Randy Lerner and Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry" over the potential transfer of Barry & "there was a feeling last night that O'Neill was putting [barry] on view to make him suffer before finally allowing the move to go ahead". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...on-Walsall.html