Liverpool kick off summer transfer season with Barry bid

LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool have kicked off what promises to be a busy summer transfer period by tabling a bid for Aston Villa's Gareth Barry that values the England midfielder at around ten million pounds (20 million dollars).

Reds boss Rafael Benitez has identified Barry, 27, as the key to strengthening his midfield and the Villa captain is reportedly keen on a move to a Champions League club.

Chelsea are also believed to be interested but Barry may be swayed by the chance of linking up at club level with Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, with whom he has forged a good understanding in the England midfield.

Barry has two years left on his contract so Villa boss Martin O'Neill could opt to hang on to him, although that would involve accepting a substantial decline in the player's transfer value over the remainder of his current deal.

O'Neill reluctantly confirmed that a bid had been made by Liverpool but said it was not a straight cash offer, fuelling speculation that he has been seeking to persuade Benitez to allow England striker Peter Crouch to move to Villa Park.

The former Celtic boss insisted that his preference would be to keep Barry if at all possible.

"I don't want to be in a position of letting really good players go," O'Neill said. "Gareth Barry is a really good player who still has two years left on his contract.

"I haven't discussed these things with him yet. At some stage obviously I will do. But the day before probably our most important game of the season is not the time to be discussing it."

Arsenal meanwhile are facing the prospect of losing two of their midfield regulars with the future of both Mathieu Flamini and Alexander Hleb up in the air.

Flamini, 24, is out of contract at the end of the season and is believed to be considering an offer from Juventus as well as a significantly improved deal from Arsenal.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who had expected his compatriot to make a decision by the end of April, said on Friday that he expected an answer imminently.

"The latest is that we are at the end of April but it is still not sorted out," Wenger said. "Certainly we should get an answer today (Friday) or tomorrow."

Asked what he thought Flamini's decision would be, Wenger said: "I'm always positive because I believe the link he has with the club will be stronger than all the other different attractions that he can have.

"I know that if it's down to football then he will stay here. If it's down to financial resources he might not stay here.

"He is free to choose a different direction, everybody is free out of contract and you have to respect that."

Hleb is a target for Internazionale but Wenger said he has not yet been contacted by the Italian giants or any other club about the Belarus international.