Crouch set to return in pounds 14m Barry deal.

Byline: By Bill Howell OUR MAN AT VILLA

GARETH Barry has moved a significant step closer to joining Liverpool this summer with Martin O'Neill set to take Peter Crouch in part-exchange.

Barry is expected to join the Reds in a deal worth around pounds 14million with Crouch and pounds 8million coming Villa's way.

There were reports on Merseyside today that Liverpool have formally made a pounds 10 million bid - but O'Neill values the player significantly higher.

Dialogue between the clubs is understood to have reached an advanced stage with an agreement close.

Despite a keenness to hang on to his influential skipper, O'Neill has already sounded out Chelsea's Steve Sidwell as a cut-price replacement.

Barry's recent words that he now has to be "selfish" in his pursuit of footballing honours told O'Neill that any hopes he has of getting him to sign a contract extension are fruitless.

It means Barry will almost certainly be waving goodbye to the Villa Park faithful after tomorrow's game against Wigan.

Crouch's return to the Midlands will soften the blow of losing such a key cog in Villa's machine.

He was signed by Graham Taylor for pounds 5million in March 2002 but struggled to hold down a place under David O'Leary, who loaned him to Norwich City and then sold him to Southampton for pounds 2million.

Crouch scored just six goals in 37 Premiership games for Villa and is now an England regular.

CAPTION(S):

PETER CROUCH.