Aussie!
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Gareth Barry is undergoing a medical with Manchester City ahead of his proposed move from Aston Villa, Sky Sports News understands.
The England international was given permission to hold talks with City by the Midlands club earlier in the day and his transfer appears to have now taken a major step closer to completion.
Barry was the subject of intense interest from Liverpool last summer, but the deal fell through with the Anfield outfit unwilling to meet Villa's £18million asking price.
City are reported to have agreed a fee of £11million with their Premier League rivals, with Barry's current contract due to expire at the end of next season.
The midfielder had previously stated he was keen to sample UEFA Champions League football, with Villa's top-four challenge this season fading as Martin O'Neill's men eventually finished sixth to secure a Europa League berth.
City will not be playing in Europe next term but Mark Hughes' side have ambitious plans for the future given the financial backing of their owners and have set their sights on challenging the Premier League's leading clubs.
I thought Barry was already in kasikstan... aparently their flying tommorow and thus they're saying they'd like the medical this afternoon...very interesting.
(Edit: SSN says Barry's having medical AT THE MOMENT.)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jun/02/manchester-city-gareth-barry-aston-villa
Manchester City ready to complete £12m deal for Gareth Barry
• England midfielder set for medical ahead of City move
• Expected to agree a salary-doubling £100,000-a-week deal
Gareth Barry is expected to complete a £12m move to Manchester City. Photograph: Scott Heavey/Action Images
Manchester City are hopeful of completing the signing of Gareth Barry today after Aston Villa accepted their £12m bid for the England international.
The Midlands club confirmed this morning that Barry is in talks with City and it is understood that, with the deal at an advanced stage, the transfer could go through as early as tonight and leave Rafael BenÃtez, the Liverpool manager, facing up to the bitter disappointment of missing out on his No1 target.
With Barry due to fly to Kazakhstan with the England squad tomorrow morning, City were hoping to make arrangements with the Football Association to facilitate a medical this afternoon. Assuming there are no complications, the 28-year-old will sign a contract believed to be worth in the region of £100,000-a-week – more than double his current salary – with Villa not anticipating a late offer from Liverpool, who failed with five bids last summer, or any other club.
Barry's decision to move to City will sit uncomfortably with Villa supporters as well as the manager, Martin O'Neill. The former Brighton trainee indicated 12 months ago that the chance to play Champions League football was the motivation for his desire to join Liverpool. City, however, finished 10th in the Premier League, 12 points behind Villa and failed to qualify for the Europa League, leaving Barry open to accusations that finance rather than football has influenced his decision.
O'Neill has said on several occasions recently that no one at Villa would "begrudge" a player who has spent 12 years at the club the chance to play in the Champions League. He had offered to make him the best-paid employee in the club's history with an £80,000–a-week contract but Barry's head appears to have been turned by City's ambitions. The one consolation for Villa is that they have extracted a £12m fee for a player who would be available on a free transfer this time next year.
Gareth Barry is undergoing a medical with Manchester City ahead of his proposed move from Aston Villa, Sky Sports News understands.
The England international was given permission to hold talks with City by the Midlands club earlier in the day and his transfer appears to have now taken a major step closer to completion.
Barry was the subject of intense interest from Liverpool last summer, but the deal fell through with the Anfield outfit unwilling to meet Villa's £18million asking price.
City are reported to have agreed a fee of £11million with their Premier League rivals, with Barry's current contract due to expire at the end of next season.
The midfielder had previously stated he was keen to sample UEFA Champions League football, with Villa's top-four challenge this season fading as Martin O'Neill's men eventually finished sixth to secure a Europa League berth.
City will not be playing in Europe next term but Mark Hughes' side have ambitious plans for the future given the financial backing of their owners and have set their sights on challenging the Premier League's leading clubs.
I thought Barry was already in kasikstan... aparently their flying tommorow and thus they're saying they'd like the medical this afternoon...very interesting.
(Edit: SSN says Barry's having medical AT THE MOMENT.)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jun/02/manchester-city-gareth-barry-aston-villa
Manchester City ready to complete £12m deal for Gareth Barry
• England midfielder set for medical ahead of City move
• Expected to agree a salary-doubling £100,000-a-week deal
Gareth Barry is expected to complete a £12m move to Manchester City. Photograph: Scott Heavey/Action Images
Manchester City are hopeful of completing the signing of Gareth Barry today after Aston Villa accepted their £12m bid for the England international.
The Midlands club confirmed this morning that Barry is in talks with City and it is understood that, with the deal at an advanced stage, the transfer could go through as early as tonight and leave Rafael BenÃtez, the Liverpool manager, facing up to the bitter disappointment of missing out on his No1 target.
With Barry due to fly to Kazakhstan with the England squad tomorrow morning, City were hoping to make arrangements with the Football Association to facilitate a medical this afternoon. Assuming there are no complications, the 28-year-old will sign a contract believed to be worth in the region of £100,000-a-week – more than double his current salary – with Villa not anticipating a late offer from Liverpool, who failed with five bids last summer, or any other club.
Barry's decision to move to City will sit uncomfortably with Villa supporters as well as the manager, Martin O'Neill. The former Brighton trainee indicated 12 months ago that the chance to play Champions League football was the motivation for his desire to join Liverpool. City, however, finished 10th in the Premier League, 12 points behind Villa and failed to qualify for the Europa League, leaving Barry open to accusations that finance rather than football has influenced his decision.
O'Neill has said on several occasions recently that no one at Villa would "begrudge" a player who has spent 12 years at the club the chance to play in the Champions League. He had offered to make him the best-paid employee in the club's history with an £80,000–a-week contract but Barry's head appears to have been turned by City's ambitions. The one consolation for Villa is that they have extracted a £12m fee for a player who would be available on a free transfer this time next year.