Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill says Gareth Barry can leave for Liverpool - if the Anfield club meet their valuation of the England midfielder.

Liverpool had a second bid of £13m turned down two weeks ago and reports suggest Villa will only sell for £18m.

“If Liverpool meet our valuation, he will have his express wish to leave Villa Park granted,” said O’Neill.

Barry, 27, criticised Villa for not trying hard enough to keep him but O’Neill insists they want him to stay.

Barry has told Villa he wants to sign for Liverpool and they still hope to sell Xabi Alonso to Juventus to help fund the deal, but are yet to receive a firm offer.

BBC Sport understands that manager Rafael Benitez will make an improved offer to sign the Aston Villa captain in a renewed attempt to bring the acrimonious saga to a conclusion.

O’Neill has been critical of Liverpool’s pursuit of Barry, who signalled his intention to move when he complained on Sunday about Villa’s lack of urgency in speaking to him.

Contrary to what he said, we desperately wanted to keep Gareth - and he knows that

“There’s no going back, it’s time for me to move on,” he said.

“I’m desperate to play Champions League football and that’s why I have to leave Villa.

“Villa kept saying they wanted me to stay but I have not heard from the manager for weeks.

“It’s seven weeks now since the season finished but while the gaffer’s found time to be a pundit at Euro 2008, he hasn’t found the time to speak to me.

“Have Villa offered me anything to try to persuade me my future is at Villa Park, not Anfield? Not a thing.”

But O’Neill has hit back to vehemently deny Barry’s claim.

“The chairman and I were surprised at Gareth’s comments,” he said.

“Contrary to what he said, we desperately wanted to keep him - and he knows that.”

Barry captained England for the first time and scored his first international goal during the recent friendly against Trinidad and Tobago.

Liverpool are keen to partner Barry in midfield with his England colleague Steven Gerrard and have declared their interest publicly, much to O’Neill’s fury.

Freeing up the required funds for Barry could pose a problem for Benitez, as the Anfield boss has admitted he is expecting to have a reduced transfer budget as a result of the feud between American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Ref From channel4.com