Spurs also went in for Barry

Barry joined moneybags City in a £12million deal on Tuesday, despite Liverpool being ready to make a fresh bid to bring him to Anfield - as exclusively revealed in Wednesday's Express & Star.

Redknapp, who also attempted to sign Barry as Portsmouth boss, confirmed both he and Rafa Benitez were priced out of a deal.

He said: "This week, I tried to sign Gareth Barry. I felt he would be a good addition for Spurs and I knew we had to make a decent offer for a top England player.

"Liverpool were also prepared to make a big offer, but we have both been blown out of the water by Manchester City.

"They offered a far bigger transfer fee and are giving the lad much bigger wages. We could not get near."

But Redknapp could yet find himself doing business with Villa this summer. Tottenham midfielders David Bentley, Tom Huddlestone and Jermaine Jenas all believed to be on the shortlist of Barry replacements.

Now Barry has again found himself at the centre of controversy, when he was involved in a clash with another England player during a training session ahead of Saturday's World Cup qualifier with Kazakhstan.

However, contrary to reports in this morning's press, the other squad member was not Gary Cahill.