Benitez on collision course with Americans again over Barry deal

Rafa Benitez is heading for another conflict with the American owners of after they appeared to question his judgment in the transfer market.

In a stance that has angered and embarrassed the Liverpool manager, Tom Hicks
and George Gillett have stalled over funding an £18million move for Gareth Barry, amid suggestions they feel it would not represent value for money.

Benitez believed a deal was on the verge of completion last week after his Aston Villa counterpart Martin O’Neill finally conceded defeat over keeping Barry and admitted he was ready, reluctantly, to cash in on the England midfielder.

Rafa's target: And Benitez will not be happy if Gareth Barry's Liverpool move falls through

To his dismay, Benitez now fears the transfer is about to collapse, following a week-long silence from Hicks and Gillett about meeting the asking price.

Losing out on his prime summer target would be galling enough, particularly after he led Barry to believe the move would go through and even turned down the chance to sign other candidates for the midfield anchor role, notably Portsmouth’s Sulley Muntari.

The implication that his bosses no longer have faith in his judgment is potentially far more serious and could cause another damaging split that would lead inevitably to fresh misgivings over his future.

Benitez, who was perilously close to being sacked last season after complaining about a perceived lack of urgency in the transfer market, does not take kindly to boardroom interference over signings.

Angry: Benitez

He stormed out of Valencia four years ago, following a confrontation with sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch over transfer targets that culminated in his colourful claim that: ‘I asked for a sofa, but they bought me a lampshade.’

Anfield officials were convinced they had captured Barry last week, only for Villa to insist on a last-minute restructuring that would have meant paying the fee in two instalments, rather than three.

Benitez still sensed the owners were behind his efforts to pair Barry with his England teammate Steven Gerrard but will now demand answers after an apparent retreat that reinforces the view they may have encountered more financial difficulties.

If they are trying to camouflage a cash crisis, they could hardly have chosen a more provocative course than evidently expressing reservations about the sell-on value of a player who would be 31 by the end of an initial four-year contract.

Benitez was prepared to offload Xabi Alonso, whose £16m price tag scared off Juventus and Arsenal, to accommodate Barry and help fund the deal. He is sure
to go on the warpath if, as he fears, the summer’s longest-running saga ends in bitter frustration.