London: Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has slammed Liverpool for making public news of an offer for their captain Gareth Barry. Local newspaper the Liverpool Echo said that the Anfield club had offered 10 million pounds for the England midfielder.

O'Neill, who said the offer involved an exchange of players, criticised Liverpool for not keeping any contact quiet.

"Gareth Barry still has two years of his contract left to run and from my two years experience of working with him; he's not one who would be wanting to break contracts lightly," he said.

"Liverpool haven't made a straight cash offer. They've made an offer involving a mishmash of nameless player exchanges. I'm particularly disappointed to hear that business is being conducted in public. We're trying to build a side here and we're not a feeder club."

O'Neill said he wanted to keep his top players as he bids to break into the big four sides in the country.

"At some stage we want to get to the position that this football club once held. That will demand an awful lot of effort. It will take a supreme effort and it will take very, very good players," he said.