Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill blasted the £10million tabled bid from Rafael Benitez in a bid to prise captain Gareth Barry away from Villa Park.

“Liverpool talked about a £10million bid, which was some cash and some unnamed players,” O’Neill said.

“That is very presumptuous of them, that the players they might be talking about, are the ones you would want - that is why I dismissed the whole thing.

“The whole story seems to have grown arms and legs and seems to be saying ‘whatever Liverpool are asking for, they will get’ but I don’t see that as being the case.

“Is Barry undervalued at £10million? Absolutely, without question. This lad is playing for England.

“That is not to say we want to give a certain valuation and then, if Liverpool come up with it, we will do business. That is not what we want to do at all.

“I’ve spoken to Gareth but we will have further discussions when the season is over. He felt himself he got affected by all the speculation and that it affected his game a bit.

“That is something for Sunday’s game that we wouldn’t want to happen. We will speak again next week.” he added.