O'Neill hopes for Barry stay
20 Aug 2008 - 13:45:59
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has reiterated his desire to keep unsettled midfielder Gareth Barry at the club.
Barry, 27, has seen his expected move to Liverpool fail to materialise following a protracted transfer saga that has dragged on since the end of last season.
The former club captain admitted he wanted to move to Anfield earlier in the summer, but the deal has stalled as the Merseysiders have failed to reach Villa's £18million valuation.
Barry has started both of Villa's last two games and O'Neill remains hopeful the England international can be persuaded to stay with the Midlands club.
"We want him to stay I think that's obvious,'' he told the Birmingham Mail.
"I think the fans want him to stay and for the length of time it has gone on it is hard to pre-empt anything.
"At this minute it's not completely resolved."
Meanwhile, midfielder Steve Sidwell is expected to miss Saturday's Premier League clash with Stoke City with a calf problem.
The £5million summer signing from Chelsea has missed the last three games after making his Villa debut in the first leg of their Intertoto Cup tie against Odense last month.