Source: Telegraph
Aston Villa tempt Gareth Barry with £75k pay deal
Aston Villa v Newcastle UnitedKick-off: Sun May 24, 4.00pm, Villa Park, BirminghamTV: Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports HD1Radio: BBC Radio Five Live [LNB]Initial reports have suggested that Villa are prepared to offer Barry a weekly salary of around £75,000 if he commits himself beyond the one year that he has remaining on his contract. [LNB] Related ArticlesPetrov signs new Villa dealAncelotti to target Young at ChelseaSport on televisionPredictor: How will your team finish the season?Stiliyan Petrov in final phase of agreeing new contract with Aston VillaNewcastle, Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Hulls Premier League relegation battleThose estimates are understood to be overly generous but, although Villa have not yet tabled a new offer formally, they would be prepared to surpass the £56,000 a week paid to Ashley Young. A figure of around £65,000 a week has been mentioned in some circles – a major improvement on the £47,000-a-week deal he signed in 2006. [LNB]Martin O'Neill, the Villa manager, is hoping that an improved contract would combine with the promise of first-team football, and a senior role at the club which would certainly include the captaincy, to form a sufficient enough bargaining chip in the event that Rafael Benitez attempts to lure Barry to Liverpool. [LNB]However, Barry is not just posturing for an improved contract terms. The 28-year-old wants Champions League football and is expected to leave if a top-four club come looking. [LNB]Villa have had better luck with Stiliyan Petrov, who on Wednesday signed a new four-year contract that will keep the midfielder at Villa Park until 2013. "I am delighted," the 29-year-old said. "I never had any doubts about it. The club assured me it was looking to build and become even more successful. That was enough for me." [LNB]
