Louie Barry of Stockport County celebrates scoring against Wrexham AFC (Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)
Louie Barry of Stockport County celebrates scoring against Wrexham AFC (Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)
Championship promotion-chasers Leeds United have reportedly joined in the race for the loan signing of Aston Villa forward Louie Barry, with the 21-year-old set to be recalled by his parent club in January.
Barry has been setting League One alight for newly-promoted Stockport County, scoring 14 times and assisting once in 19 league appearances and carrying his temporary club to fifth place in just their first season back in the English third tier.
After spending last season in League Two with the Hatters, the Englishman signed for the club on loan once again in the summer and has been the best player in the league above this campaign.
His scintillating form is said to have caught the eye of his parent club and a number of Championship teams as Villa look set to recall Barry and send him back out on loan to a club in the higher division for the second half of this season.
Barry has already been linked with Derby County of the second tier and, according to TeamTalk, Leeds have entered the competition for his signature.
There are arguments to be made for Barry to join each of the sides. The Whites are sitting pretty in second and would provide an opportunity for Barry to make the best use of his skills, receiving more of the ball and being given more chances in-game. However, there would be hotter competition for places and Villa may wish to send him somewhere where he is absolutely guaranteed minutes to aid his development.
The Rams could be that option as they look to remain in the Championship after gaining promotion last term. The need to bolster their attack would give Barry plenty of opportunity to stamp his mark on the team in the second half of the season, but it would be a more difficult task with Derby currently on a run of just one win in 11 games.
On top of those two clubs, Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday are two other teams recently linked, meaning more options at both ends of the Championship.
Luckily for Villa, if they are to recall him, they will not be short of suitors for former Barcelona youth player and it is clear they have a gem on their hands in young Barry.
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