Martin O'Neill, the Aston Villa manager, has reacted with fury to claims he is now prepared to let Gareth Barry join Liverpool.

O'Neill reiterated his determination to hold on to his captain, who was recently the subject of a £10 million bid from Rafael Benitez, and reports yesterday suggested Barry could be sold if the price was right.

But an angry O'Neill said: "I have not said anything of the sort. To suggest I would be happy to sell Gareth is simply not true. I did say that no club would want to keep an unhappy player but at no time has Gareth expressed any displeasure about his time at Villa."

O'Neill and Randy Lerner, the club's American owner, have been attempting to persuade Barry, who has two years remaining on his contract, to commit his future to the club.

"We are doing everything we can," O'Neill added. "We are determined to keep Gareth at Villa Park. To say that I am resigned to losing him is simply not the case."