Liverpool not looking likely to sign Gareth Barry from Aston Villa

Aug 19 2008

RAFA Benitez's last-ditch attempt to land Gareth Barry looks doomed to failure.

The Liverpool manager is still desperate to sign the Aston Villa midfielder despite having the plug pulled on the deal by Anfield's American owners.

Benitez will spend the next week trying to persuade Tom Hicks and George Gillett that the midfielder will be a good value capture. But Mirror Sport understands he will be blocked from signing Barry, even if he raises the funds by selling fringe players like Andriy Voronin and Jermaine Pennant.

Senior officials at the club say it will take a "dramatic U-turn" from the Americans to allow the £18m signing to go ahead...