Barry edges closer to move

Gareth Barry’s departure for Liverpool has edged nearer after it emerged this summer’s testimonial is no longer on the cards for the Villa skipper.

The midfielder, who arrived from Brighton in 1997, is entitled to a benefit match after more than a decade at Villa Park.

A date of August 9 had been pencilled in, with Barry having looked at potential opponents.

Yet plans have now been shelved, as his departure grows ever closer.

Liverpool are set to return with a fourth bid this week, after their third offer of £13m was slammed by Martin O’Neill.

The expected sale of Xabi Alonso to Juventus should pave the way for what Villa will deem a more realistic offer.

Their position has been weakened by Barry’s admission that he wants to move to Merseyside but O’Neill has no need to offload the England midfielder, valued at £20m, on the cheap.

The deal will have no bearing on his own budget for the summer.

Even in the unlikely event Barry stays, a testimonial still seems certain not to happen this summer, given supporters would be unlikely to warm to it.

Reports indicate that O’Neill is already preparing for life without Barry, with the Villa boss on the verge of agreeing a £5million deal for Steve Sidwell are thought to be wide of the mark.

But sources close to the player have indicated the Blues player is still to be told he is no longer wanted at Stamford Bridge.

With the future of Frank Lampard yet to be resolved, he has not given hope of remaining in west London.

It still seems likely that Sidwell will be shown the exit door, with Villa one of nine Premier League sides including Manchester City, Blackburn and the three north-east clubs battling it out for the former his services.

O’Neill is keen to bring the ex-Reading man to Villa Park, regardless of what happens with Barry as he attempts to strengthen numbers.

Elsewhere, Blackburn’s David Bentley has again been heavily linked, with reports suggesting O’Neill will be the first to move for the England international with a £15m bid.