Exclusive: Dan Bardell would be shocked if Aston Villa bring back Ross Barkley
We’re delighted to welcome The Athletic’s Dan Bardell as our exclusive Aston Villa columnist each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the club…
There is next to no chance that Aston Villa re-sign Ross Barkley this summer after his previous loan spell at the club says Dan Bardell.
The former Everton player’s prospects at Chelsea look to be over, and he has been linked with a number of sides for a move during the window, with Villa’s name continuing to crop up after they were reportedly offered the chance to sign him again [Mirror].
But Bardell would be shocked to see it happen considering his time at the club previously was hardly a roaring success, and the main reason for it at the time was his link to former captain Jack Grealish, who is no longer around.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News he said: “I would be absolutely flabbergasted from what I know from when Ross Barkley was there, and from watching his time there in general, I would be flabbergasted if Villa pulled in Ross Barkley.
“I just don’t see it happening at all. I think one of the main reasons Barkley came in the first place was because he was friends with Jack Grealish.
“Jack Grealish was a big reason, one, why Ross Barkley chose to come to Villa at the time, and two, that Villa even went to try and sign Ross Barkley.
“So Grealish not being there, the fact that his loan spell just wasn’t a success at all, the fans weren’t keen on him either, I’d be absolutely shell-shocked if Villa signed Ross Barkley.
“I just don’t see that happening at all.”
With two players who are both considered better than Barkley these days who play in similar areas, in Emi Buendia and Philippe Coutinho on the books, there doesn’t look to be any real argument for this move.
It makes sense for Chelsea who are no doubt looking for anyone who will take him, but with the two South American’s already in place and the club arguably needing to find a way to feature them together more often as it is, there is no benefit to having a talented but often disappointing Barkley sitting around behind them.
Unless there is an injury at the position it’s hard to see the decision makers at the club even considering this one, as his wages and any fee would be better spent elsewhere this year.
In other Aston Villa news, Bertrand Traore has left the club on loan to Turkey.