Villa skipper Gareth Barry is alone and redundant at his home as the struggle over his future intensifies.
Barry was snapped by photographers at his Warwickshire home, where he is sitting out his suspension from Villa, incurred for an unauthorised and critical newspaper interview.
Manager Martin O’Neill has told his captain to stay away from pre-season training, having acknowledged that his protracted move to Liverpool will not go through until the Anfield club meets Villa’s £18m valuation.
Barry, asked if he thought he would be going to Liverpool, shrugged his shoulders and said: “Who knows?”
O’Neill admits it is “more important than ever” to bring in new signings, now that his midfield star’s future lies away.
Olof Mellberg, Thomas Sorensen and Patrik Berger have already left since the end of last season plus on loan Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson.
Now Barry’s impending exit adds to the holes appearing in Villa’s squad.
O’Neill said: “We are hoping to try to add to the squad. The players did fantastically last season but we had the smallest squad in the Premier League.
“We wouldn’t want that to happen this season so we’re going to address it. Even if Gareth had decided to stay, we were still going to address it.
“Now it’s even more important to do it than ever. It’s the time for anticipation now.
“Players are back for pre-season training and, with the European Championships out of the way, it’s obviously all systems go for everyone.”
O’Neill insists he has been stepping up his plans to bring in new blood during June and that was not hindered by working as a TV pundit during Euro 2008.
He said: “I went out and did some games for the BBC. I was working there for two or three days in the week but then coming back and working here.
“It was not as if I spent three weeks out in Austria - not that I should have to explain myself to anyone other than one person at this football club (owner Randy Lerner).”
Still, time is of the essence for O’Neill, as Villa will be on Intertoto Cup duty in just over two weeks.
One Comment
Liverpool are reported to have said they have not made a final offer, what does that mean exactly? are they going to make another bid or indeed a final bid? either way I wish they would get on with it and make their final offer, then we will all know where we stand.