Well, with the emergence of Gareth Barry this campaign, there's been lots of talk about him leaving Aston Villa for one of the big four.

Unfortunately for him, there's not much room for him among the big four. I don't see any room for him at United with the current depth of the squad. No room for him at Chelsea, unless one of Ballack, Lampard, Essien or Obi Mikel were to leave. So that leaves Arsenal and Liverpool.

Barry has a friendship with Gerrard, and obviously their connection through England's national team. Then there's Benitez's admiration of Barry, as it's been said that Barry is on Benitez's wish list. But is there room for him at Liverpool? Javier Mascherano has emerged as a force in the middle and there's always Xabi Alonso waiting in the wings with Lucas Leiva following.

This leads me to Arsenal. With Mathieu Flamini's contract issue up in the air, and Wenger setting a deadline of the end of April for Flamini to make up his mind. This leaves many (of us Arsenal fans) pondering who will replace the anchor of Flamini on the pitch and to partner Fabregas, if in fact he was to leave. Arsenal have Gilberto (who might leave as well) who could take Flamini's spot, with Diaby and Denilson waiting for a chance. I don't think Denilson is ready for a starting XI spot in league matches. Diaby is better utilized on the wing right now as he hasn't developed that understanding with Fabregas.

So this goes to say, why not have Barry come to Arsenal to replace Flamini upon his departure. I feel that Barry could fit in quite well with his work ethic. He would most likely jump right into the starting XI. He is also a very versatile player who can play many positions. He can play as a CB or as a LB if need be. He can play up the middle in a defensive role and can also go forward if needed grabbing 8 goals and 10 assists this season (as of 29th of April). He's also competent on set plays. The thing that hurts him when it comes to Arsenal and the mindset of Wenger is that Barry is 27 years old, and will probably come with a price tag of around £12-15 million. Would it be worth it as a replacement to Flamini? In my opinion, yes.

Then there's always the other option of him staying put at Aston Villa. A place where he's worked hard to get to where he's at in establishing himself. And being captain of an up and coming side in the EPL, who arguably could challenge for a top 4 finish next year.

You're thoughts? Where do you think he'll go? Where do you think he should go/do?

i think barry has shown us that he is a good player, who can also lead a team. He is a useful player that can comfortably play left back or center mid. He is good enough for both Arsenal and Liverpool but i think he will have more chance of the move to Liverpool. Arsenal wouldnt pay the money and i dont think Flamini will leave anyway. Plus hes english!!
He would fit in well with Liverpool and i hope he does move there. It will make villa less of a team as he would be a big miss to them. There is a chance he would stay at villa but if a team like Liverpool comes in for him he would not be able to turn them down...

I think he will go to Newcastle, why not sure just think he will. But i hope he goes to Dundee.F.C

Depends whose intrested, i think it will be probably be Chelsea or maybe Arsenal. I doubt Arsenal as he is/was a Tottenham fan. If we went full out to try and get him wed have a chance, but i think the only reason he may want to leave is to make the step up, and Villa to Spurs isnt really a step up.

I think he will go to Liverpool. But he would fit in nicely at Spurs. Would be a perfect replacement for Carrick, as Zokora hasn't come close to filling the hole that was left by him.

i would love him to come to Newcastle. but just like yobbo said, its not much of a step up. atleast we know if both Newcastle and Spurs go for him, he will go to Spurs!

if Spurs signed barry i would begin to worry as they now seem to finally be siging the right players since january with the immense woodgate and hutton (both should have went to Liverpool).....as a boyhood fan you would have to imagine if Spurs came in he would sign for them...

though if not Liverpool would be ideal as he is very versatile and as everyone knows benitez has the tendency to change players like every single game.....so Gareth Barry to Liverpool pleaseeeeeee

He has previously been rumored for Newcastle and Blackburn. But I left those two out of the running because honestly, neither are a step up from Aston Villa (currently). I know he wants to play in the CL (like every other player out there), but Barry actually has an opportunity to do so.

I feel that currently, Aston Villa have a better chance of breaking the top 4 than Newcastle, Blackburn or Tottenham. Even if Tottenham was his boyhood team, I don't think he would leave Aston Villa for them. We have to remember, he made himself what he is at Aston Villa, and he's currently the captain, and we all know that Aston Villa is definitely a club on the rise with great young talent and funds to back them. (not saying Tottenham are not on the rise from this past season.)

True but Spurs have signed modric as well and you would imagine with a quality out and out winger and a kepper it might just turn barry's head....also ramos is a well respected coach i just have a feeling that Spurs will have a sneaky chance of signing him

Yeah it will be interesting to see what happens with Barry. Who knows though? It'd be so heartbreaking to see him sign for one of the top four and become some sort of fringe player. And if he doesn't go to one of the top four, why would he go anywhere else? It wouldn't exactly be a positive career move...

Yes, Spurs are a few pieces away from potentially having a crack, but so are Aston Villa. I don't see a player leaving a set position on a team and leaving the captain armband behind for another club in a similar position. (unless there's a lot of money involved)

But a guaranteed CL spot is the main attraction of the big 4.

Depends who strongly he feels abput Tottenham. If it was me in his situation i would join Spurs over any team in the world, but thats just me.

I thought about Liverpool, but i cant see where hed slot into the team unless it meant Alonso missing out and then if it would then i sayw e go in for Alonso.

I think hes had a great season Barry and if I was him would move on now
to a bigger club to try and win some trophies and further my international career...

I think Arsenal would be an ideal destination for him as they might be short in
midfield if all these rumors about Gilberto,flamini and Hleb leaving are true and
he would do a fantastic job in a holding role sitting just infront of the defence....

Wether Arsene Wenger will buy an English player though is another matter!!

I'd like to see us go and sign Gareth Barry very much. But if he did in my opinion he'd play as left-back for us, acting as cover for Alonso too.

His versatility, leadership and passing ability are desirable qualities to me. He can attack and defend at competent levels and could be the attack-minded yet solid full-back we require.

Arsenal is a no for me - i couldn't see him replacing Flamini for some reason. Chelsea perhaps, but he'd only be a squad player.

Unless Alonso or Flamini leave their current teams, i can't see Barry going to a top 4 team.

He would fit in a treat at Tottenham, but how much of a step up is that? If Villa finish 5th this season and get into the UEFA cup, you could argue it's not a step up.

Why dismiss foreign teams though? Villareal and Atletico could well be playing in the CL next season.

English players rarely have gone abroad in recent years, and now the English Premier League is the supposed "best in the world", i see it even less likely that a player will look elsewhere.

If it ain't Villa, it'll be Liverpool in my opinion. Can't see him sitting on Chelsea's bench; Wenger won't have him as an adequate replacement for Flamini i don't think, whilst anyone other than Villa is not a step up (the only reason i can see him leaving, to make it to the Champions League).

Well if Villa don't make the UEFA cup, then he might consider a move to Tottenham?

I suspect after 10 years of being with Aston Villa he'll be quite fond of them by now, and not make the step up unless it's for the better of his career.

Perhaps you could say it would be if Villa didn't make the UEFA Cup, but they will. Well, they'll definitely make the Intertoto Cup, which is quite easy to progress through.

Putting Rafa's rotation policy aside. Do you think he could displace either Javier Mascherano or Xabi Alonso.

As I've stated in my first post and a few others reiterating it (you included). Barry can play at CB or LB (as cover), but it's quite obvious his preferred position is at CM as a holding midfielder. I don't see him displacing Mascherano. Xabi on the other hand I could see, but will he be happy with a spot on the bench and/or a spot as a utility player after all his hard work to get to his current stature?

If Flamini ends up staying at Arsenal, I don't see Wenger even glancing in Barry's direction. However, if Flamini ends up leaving (which looks likely at the moment), I don't see why Wenger wouldn't take a look at the possibility. If Flamini were to leave, Barry would drop directly into the starting XI, no questions asked. He's better and more consistent than both Diaby and Denilson at the moment, and arguably better suited than Gilberto (if he's to stay).

It's hard to say, because Barry has certainly been better than Alonso in the last 2 seasons, but, Alonso is a more gifted player - he can and has reached heights greater than Barry will ever achieve.

I thought this season Alonso would improve on his previous campaign, but he struggled with injury and hasn't done that. Next season if he's free of injury i can see him getting back to somewhere near his best, so i'd prefer to have him than Barry. And if Lucas is as talented as we're told, then it would be a bad move to knock him further down the pecking order.

Lucas in my opinion is best in an advanced role, Gerrard-esque. I can't see him replacing Alonso.

I could easily see Barry displacing Alonso though, as Lucas sort of did briefly earlier, but it's more dependant on the form of Alonso. As Sticky said, i think Xabi at his best is better than Barry at his best.

Personally, as i've said, i'd have Barry at Liverpool to play regularly at left-back; or as a replacement should Alonso leave. He could come in for either reason in my opinion. There's definitely room for him if he's willing to play as full-back.

I can't for the life of me seeing Wenger going for him though. Just does not seem like a move he would make.

Neither can i. For a start, he's English - i don't mean that in the way the media are forever insinuating, but as we all know, English players are overpriced, and Wenger has always been reluctant to pay over the odds for someone because of their nationality, and rightly so.

Add to that his age, and i think it's unlikely Wenger will seriously bid for him.

Arsene never buys oldies and almost never buys English. I doubt he will buy Barry.

I think he's better off staying at Villa. He won't get in a top four side at centre midfield (would get in Liverpool side at full back but nowhere else) and Villa are a team on the up with money and a great manager and Barry is at the centre of that. Seems like madness for him to leave.

He should go to Liverpool. He's a better player than Alonso and he could form a good partnership in the centre with Mascherano. I think Rafa might finally have caught himself on and decided to get rid of Alsono. Pass completion rate of 4% all season. The odd 40yard cross-field ball blurs the view of Liverpool supporters though

My Prediction:
Alonso to Spain somewhere
Lucas(who i think isn't good enough for 1st team football) will probably stay at the club, OR will be sent out on loan.
That leaves Gerrard, Mascharano, and Barry...throw Babel in there and that's Liverpool's midfield.

Barry to Liverpool in the summer!