The midlands club last night confirmed they had turned down a "renewed offer" for the England midfielder, although they insisted it was not the £17million one widely reported earlier in the day.

Liverpool also denied they had made a £17million bid, and insisted it was "not their final offer".

But on a day when Villa boss Martin O'Neill fined club skipper Barry two weeks' wages for his Sunday newspaper outburst attacking his manager's handling of the prospective deal, Liverpool were again told they had not matched Villa's valuation.

Liverpool had previously seen three bids rejected of £10million, £11million and then £13million and the new offer was believed to be in the region of £15million. O'Neill, however, is demanding £18million.

Barry had raised the stakes this week by publicly attacking his manager and as well as being fined he was also told not to attend Villa's first day of pre-season training today.

Villa's latest statement said: "The club have received a renewed offer from Liverpool for the player but that still falls well short of Aston Villa's evaluation, and has subsequently been rejected."

Barry upset O'Neill by intimating the Villa boss was more interested in being a television pundit for the Euro 2008 finals than speaking to him over his future and that move to Liverpool.

He said: "It's seven weeks now since the season finished but while the gaffer found time to be a pundit for the BBC at Euro 2008, he hasn't found time to speak to me."