Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is demanding £20 million for skipper Gareth Barry.

The Guardian says Villa will resist Liverpool's attempts to sign Barry for around £15m, with Martin O'Neill determined that the price for the England player should be closer to £20m. The Villa manager is resigned to losing Barry, after accepting that the midfielder wishes to play Champions League football next season, but he is adamant that the 27-year-old will not be allowed to leave unless Liverpool return with a significantly improved bid.

Liverpool have already tabled two bids for Barry: a £10m deal involving what O'Neill described as a "mish-mash of players" and a £12m cash offer. Both were rejected and O'Neill remains upset with the way Liverpool have handled negotiations. Details of the first bid, which was ill-timed anyway, were leaked on Merseyside. O'Neill will not allow Barry's departure on anything other than his terms.