Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has defended the £10million price tag the club have put on goalkeeper Scott Carson.

Carson has been on loan to Aston Villa for the season, and it was expected that the Birmingham club were to splash the cash and sign the 22-year-old England international on a permanent deal.

But talks have stalled between the two clubs with Villa refusing to meet the £10million asking fee.

Benitez told the Liverpool Echo, “It is a matter between the clubs. We agreed the fee with Aston Villa last year. The fee has been there for one season so to talk about the fee now is not correct.”

“We agreed with Martin O’Neill and that was the situation.”

Carson himself seems unhappy with Liverpool’s demands, and feels he may not be given the chance to leave Anfield.

He told a local newspaper, “It’s too much. It’s stupid money really. It may be time to move but I don’t know if anyone will agree a fee.”

With Liverpool in the hunt for Villa’s midfielder Gareth Barry, Carson could still be part of a deal between the two clubs.