Liverpool primed to table £12m bid for Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry

It is believed that Liverpool have already contacted Villa about a move for the 27-year-old England midfielder and they are ready to swoop in the summer.

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However, though co-owner Tom Hicks and Benitez have discussed transfer targets, the on-going power struggle between Hicks and George Gillett, who owns 50 per cent of the club, is hampering progress.

Chief executive Rick Parry has not been involved in the talks.

Benitez was shocked to discover Parry was at a November meeting with Jurgen Klinsmann in which the German was sounded out about taking the Anfield job.

On Sunday, Benitez appeared the throw his support behind Hicks' demands that Parry should resign.

Yet Parry is keen for clear-the-air talks, claiming he attended the meeting only under orders from co-owners Hicks and George Gillett.

Hicks last week called for Parry to resign, and he remains under pressure, but the chief executive has called for unity.

Parry told Sportsmail: "I said the ownership difficulties needed resolving because they were doing the club harm, and I stick by that. I was surely only echoing a sentiment that would be shared by any Liverpool supporter.

"It is essential we keep moving forward, and we can only do that by sorting things out at the top. It needs doing urgently, so we can restore some stability and get on with planning for the future."

Hicks met Klinsmann too, but is now backing Benitez and wants rid of Parry and Gillett.

A move for Barry must be agreed by all parties at Anfield.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill is desperate to keep Barry, who was on the verge of joining Portsmouth in a £4.5m deal last summer.

He has promised to improve his skipper's current £50,000-a-week deal, which has two years left to run.

However, as long as Benitez stays in charge at Anfield, the lure of a European football could prove too great for Barry.