Originally Posted by LWAR

The difference being Benitez has been willing to negotiate on both Crouch and Alonso. He started at £15m for Crouch but has reportedly accepted an offer closer to £10m. O'Neill has been a stubborn arse and wont budge from £18m which is clearly a vast over-estimation for a player of Barry's skill (or lack of).

If I were Rafa I'd walk away from the deal, keep Alonso and leave Villa with an unhappy captain sitting on the bench.