London - Aston Villa confirmed on Tuesday that midfielder Gareth Barry is in talks with Manchester City over a potential summer transfer. The England international almost joined Liverpool last season, but the deal fell through when the Merseyside club failed to meet Villa's 18-million-pound (29.8 million dollars) asking price.
He had been expected to move to Anfield this summer, but City manager Mark Hughes is keen to make the 28-year-old the start of what is expected to be a summer of heavy spending at Eastlands.
"Aston Villa can confirm that Gareth Barry is in talks with Manchester City," a Villa spokesman said.
It is thought Villa would expect around 12 million pounds for Barry, who is though to command a 80,000-pound per week salary.
