Aston Villa take shot at Birmingham City with Louie Barry transfer decision
Aston Villa have taken a shot at Birmingham City with their decision on the future of Louie Barry.
The Villans confirmed that the 21-year-old will return to Villa Park in January after notching 14 goals in 21 League One matches for Stockport County. [X, 22 December]
The Villans are understood to want the former Barcelona youngster to play at a higher level and could send him back out with Championship clubs interested in the prolific attacker.
However, Unai Emery could get one over on Villa’s local rivals as Barry’s final match for Stockport will be against Birmingham (1 January).
Barry unlikely to feature for Aston Villa
The young Englishman is unlikely to feature for the Villans and will likely go straight back out on loan.
With Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran in fierce competition for the number nine role at Villa Park, it is hard to see where game time would come for Barry if he was integrated into the first team.
Therefore, sending the forward on loan to a Championship team is the best option for Emery and his side.
If he scores at the same rate as he has done in the league below then he may be ready to step up in the Premier League next season.
That may be required if either Watkins or Duran move on in the summer and it would be a wise move to think ahead.
For now, though, Barry could give the Villans another laugh over their local rivals who are languishing in the third tier.
In other Aston Villa news, Michael Owen was left sick to his stomach after what Villa fans did in the win against Manchester City.
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