O'Neill rules out Barry transfer

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has dismissed speculation linking skipper Gareth Barry with a move to Chelsea.

Barry's standing in the game has increased significantly since becoming an England regular under Steve McClaren and now Fabio Capello.

The 27-year-old midfielder, who next month will celebrate the 10th anniversary of his Villa debut, has been the subject of rumours fuelled by reports that Chelsea's Frank Lampard could move abroad.

But O'Neill is downplaying the links with Avram Grant's side and points out Barry is contracted to Villa until the end of the 2009-10 campaign.

The former Celtic boss said: "I don't know where these stories are coming from and Gareth has another two-and-a-bit years left on his contract.

"He has been linked with Chelsea for a couple of seasons now but no-one from Chelsea has ever contacted me about him and they have had a couple of managers [Grant and Jose Mourinho] and the same chief executive [Peter Kenyon] during that time."

Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Luka Modric is hoping Croatian media reports linking him with a move to Liverpool are accurate.

Modric said today: "I don't wish to discuss possible transfers, but if Liverpool really want me, then this is fantastic and I am truly honoured.

"I watched the Champions League quarter-finals and the way they crushed Arsenal. Only the greatest and the best can play such a match against strong Arsenal."