Gareth Barry's move to Liverpool looks ever closer this afternoon after Aston Villa announced their captain will not be returning to the club for the start of pre-season training after being disciplined.
Barry has been reprimanded for giving an "unauthorised" newspaper interview, according to Villa, who reportedly received another offer from Liverpool for the player this morning.
Both clubs have rejected the report but the news that Barry has been punished by his club would suggest that relations have deteriorated significantly and a move to Rafael Benitez's side is imminent.
"There's no truth in this morning's reports and the situation remains the same," Villa manager Martin O'Neill said today.
"Gareth will not be returning to training tomorrow and he has been disciplined after giving an unauthorised interview to the News of the World."
It was reported earlier today that Liverpool had made a final offer of €19million, plus a €2.5million bonus, depending on the club's standing at the end of next season.
Though Liverpool denied the offer, they maintained discussions are ongoing.
Barry and O'Neill have been engaged in an increasingly bitter war of words since the England player informed his club manager over a month ago he wanted to join the Merseysiders.
Barry claimed that O'Neill had spent the past weeks working as a TV pundit at Euro 2008 but had not found the time to contact his club skipper over the situation.
O'Neill hit back earlier this week claiming the player and his agent were more than aware of talks and the manager's position in not wanting Barry to leave.
But O'Neill has also made it clear that "Barry can have his transfer" if the bid meets Villa's requirements of €22million.
But Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believes that Barry's position at Villa has become untenable with fans' groups turning against the 27-year-old and the Spaniard seems unwilling in such a situation to meet the price.
Barry, a close friend of Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard, is believed to be prepared for a showdown with O'Neill tomorrow where he will again reiterate his desire to leave.
