Last Updated: Fri, 02 May 2008 16:32
Chelsea face a battle to land top target Gareth Barry after Aston Villa confirmed that Liverpool made an approach for the player.
Speculation has been hotting up for weeks that Chelsea and Liverpool want to sign the England international and now it seems as though the Reds have made the first move for his signature.
Barry still has two years to run on his deal and Villa are keen to keep hold with their boss Martin O'Neill admitting that he will do all he can to fight off interest in him.
O'Neill is in no mood to do business for Barry and has hit out at Liverpool, but it looks as though things will hot up in the summer as Chelsea are also said to be preparing a bid.
O'Neill told Villa's website: "Gareth Barry still has two years of his contract left to run and from my two years' experience of working with him, he's not one who would be wanting to break contracts lightly.
"Liverpool haven't made a straight cash offer. They have made an offer involving a mish-mash of nameless player exchanges.
"I'm particularly disappointed to hear that business is being conducted in public and I just want to be clear on this in that we're trying to build a side here and we're not a feeder club."