Gareth Barry’s desire to be a part of a Champions League outfit for the 2008-09 season could fail to materialise as reports suggest that Liverpool are no more interested in the £18m-rated Aston Villa midfielder, while another Premiership side linked with him, Arsenal are said to be making eleventh-hour attempt to capture £5m-worth Swiss international Gokhan Inler from Udinese.

The Reds had earlier been turned down with their offers for the 27-year-old England international Barry as Villa boss Martin O’Neill made it clear that he wants the Merseysiders to match the asking price.

Rafa Benitez’s side have not yet come back with the right bid as in the meanwhile Xabi Alonso’s possible transfer to Juventus failed to go through with the Italian giants baulking at reported £15m asking price. With the Spanish international happy to stay at Anfield, the Reds boss has now reportedly decided to focus on signing their only top target and that is Tottenham forward Robbie Keane.

Gunners had been linked with Barry and also Alonso, but are now reportedly looking to hijack Newcastle’s move for Euro 2008 star Inler.

In such scenario, Barry, who has been welcomed back in Villa fold as he has already made couple of impressive appearances in their pre-season games, seems likely to stay at Villa Park and O’Neill has disclosed his wish to keep his captain.

"We don't want him to go," said O'Neill. "The price we are asking for Gareth Barry is a true and realistic price for a player so good, and really cheap for a quality player. Please don't read into that anything else. I don't want him to go.

"Liverpool not answering us for a week on certain things sends out a real message. This player has been great at Villa for 10 years and the crowd came out very strongly in his favour.

"We need Gareth Barry at the club. He would be a terrible loss for us if he were to go. It's very obvious we value him more than perhaps Liverpool do. He's a top-quality European player, and we really want him to stay.”