Leeds United are reportedly among the clubs who are keen on Louie Barry, and the Aston Villa-owned forward should make the move to Elland Road in the January transfer window.
The Sunday People (print edition, page 51, December 15, 2024) reported that Leeds are interested in signing Barry on loan from Villa next month. Sunderland, Burnley and Middlesbrough are also competing for the signature of the forward.
Barry is on loan at Stockport County from Villa at the moment. The 21-year-old is a very versatile attacking player who has played as a left winger, centre forward and central attacking midfielder so far this season.
The former West Bromwich Albion and Barcelona prospect has scored 15 goals and given one assist in 21 matches in all competitions for Stockport this season. Of those 15 goals, 14 have come in League One (Transfermarkt).
The Sunday People has reported that Villa have decided to recall Barry from his loan spell at Stockport and want to send him to a club at a higher level for the second half of that season.
From Barry’s perspective, that club has to be Leeds. The West Yorkshire club would be perfect for the youngster.
First of all, Leeds want to sign Barry in the January transfer window on a loan deal. This indicates that head coach Daniel Farke thinks that he fits into his plan and system.
While Leeds have a good attacking unit, there is always room for improvement. Patrick Bamford is not the player he was, and Mateo Joseph has scored only two goals in 10 starts in the Championship this season.
Joel Piroe is playing as the main striker, but he has managed just seven goals in 21 Championship games this season. Given Barry’s current form in League One, he should fancy his chances of impressing Farke in training and then getting into the starting line-up.
Secondly, playing for a club like Leeds is going to help Barry. The Whites are aiming to win automatic promotion from the Championship. There is intense pressure at Elland Road.
Barry would learn a lot from just being in the dressing room at Leeds. He is only 21 now, and he would get first-hand experience of how to thrive and deal with being in a highly pressurised situation.