Villa have admitted receiving a fourth bid from Liverpool for Gareth Barry – but it was swiftly rejected.

The skipper has been banned from Villa’s training ground and disciplined for an ill-advised critique of boss Martin O’Neill in a Sunday newspaper.

Barry was absent as his team-mates returned to Bodymoor Heath today for the start of pre-season.

A club statement said: “The report of a £17m offer for Gareth Barry is inaccurate.

“The club have received a renewed offer from Liverpool for the player but that still falls well short of Aston Villa’s evaluation.

“It haas subsequently been rejected.”

O’Neill is adamant the club want £18m for their captain and England international.

In banning and fining him, Barry’s Villa career is now at an end and all that remains is for the clubs to hammer out an agreement on the fee.