Barry running out of time to join starlet Ngog at Liverpool
Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill has warned Liverpool that time is running out for them to pay up and sign Gareth Barry.
Reds manager Rafa Benitez wants to pair Villa captain Barry with Steven Gerrard in central midfield, but has so far refused to pay the £18m asking price. And O’Neill says Villa have been left in the dark by Liverpool, but will not wait indefinitely for them to respond.
“It’s been unfortunate. We don’t know where we stand at this minute,” O’Neill said.
“Liverpool have not officially come back to us. It is a really awkward position here at this minute. “At some stage or other there will have to be a timescale on it because we cannot just keep going on like this. We have got our own plans to make – and we shouldn’t be at the behest of Liverpool.” Benitez has also been looking to strengthen his forward line, and yesterday signed France Under-19 striker David Ngog from Paris St Germain.
Ngog, who reportedly cost £1.2m, has penned a four-year contract on Merseyside.
The 19-year-old scored just one goal in 14 league outings last season as PSG battled to avoid relegation and is the cousin of former Newcastle defender Jean-Alain Boumsong.