Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is pushing Peter Crouch towards Aston Villa.

The Mail on Sunday says he is desperate for Crouch to join Villa as part of a swap deal with Barry and is annoyed that Crouch's agents are trying to get a £75,000-a-week offer from Portsmouth.

Martin O'Neill has been offered Scott Carson, Jon Arne Riise and Crouch for Barry but Liverpool wanted cash as well - something O'Neill is reluctant to pay as he regards Barry as more valuable than Crouch, who only has one year left on his contract.

Crouch is interested in a return to Villa Park but he also has a strong loyalty to Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp, while a move to Manchester City would allow him to keep his north-west home.