Former Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg believes replacing Gareth Barry will be the ‘hardest decision’ for Martin O’Neill and Co, even as Liverpool are yet to return with their offer matching the reported £18m valuation of the wantaway midfielder.

Barry’s future still remains uncertain as the Reds have reportedly failed in as many as four separate bids to prise the 27-year-old England international away from Villa Park.

Swedish international, Mellberg, who joined Juventus this summer after a seven-year spell at Villa, is quoted in Express and Star as saying: “Villa want to keep their best players like Gareth, but at the moment Liverpool is a bigger club.

“Every season since I have known Villa they have tried to strengthen but if they lost Gareth it would be a huge blow. Who do they replace him with? Replacing Gareth will probably be the hardest decision.”