Benitez won't give up on Barry
29 Jul 2008 - 17:14:45
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has admitted that more players will have to be sold before he can afford to launch a renewed bid for Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry.
Villa boss Martin O'Neill has put an £18million price tag on Barry, who has been high on Benitez's wish-list this summer.
Villa remain keen to keep the England international though, and have reportedly offered him a new contract, but Benitez said: "We knew that we could only spend money by selling players and we have been doing this (for Robbie Keane).
"We are still trying to sign the players that we need, and if we need to sell someone now, okay, we will do so.
"If we can do it (the Barry deal) before the end of the transfer window, we will continue to try. We will always continue to improve our squad."
Benitez has already sold John Arne Riise, Peter Crouch, Danny Guthrie and Scott Carson this summer, but spent more than £20million to land Tottenham striker Robbie Keane on Monday.