Newly-appointed Sheffield United head coach Ruben Selles must reunite with impressive attacker this summer as Premier League giants are “prepared” to let star depart.
Sheffield United are heading into the 2025/26 Championship campaign with a major change in the dugout, after Ruben Selles replaced Chris Wilder as Blades boss.
Not only did Tommy Watson send Sunderland back to the Premier League, his 94th-minute winner in the Championship play-off final cost the Bramall Lane favourite his job.
Former Hull City boss Selles will spearhead Sheffield United’s promotion hunt next season, and will have to win Blades fans over after they labelled Wilder’s sacking as “disgusting”.
If Spaniard Selles is to go one better than his predecessor next season, the new Blades boss must target a 15-goal former forward of his in the summer transfer window, who Premier League giants Aston Villa are poised to sell.
Louie Barry playing for Hull City in Sunderland v Hull City Sky Bet Championship game.
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Sheffield United must target Louie Barry as Aston Villa ‘prepared to sell’
English starlet Louie Barry spent the first half of his 2024/25 campaign on loan at Stockport County in League One, where the left-winger catapulted himself to become one of the EFL’s rising talents.
In just 23 third tier outings, Barry scored 15 goals and notched two assists under Dave Challinor, as Stockport surged towards the play-off places.
Unfortunately for Stockport, he suffered an injury, and then Barry’s parent club Aston Villa recalled the 22-year-old, and he was sent to Championship Hull for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign.
However, the former Barcelona youngster’s second loan spell of the season would be condemned by a knee injury suffered in a 1-0 win at Sunderland, which saw the forward return to his parent club Villa to undergo rehabilitation.
Statistic Louie Barry for Stockport County Louie Barry for Hull City
Games played 24 4
Goals 16 0
Assists 2 0
Louie Barry’s statistics in 2024/25 season on loan for Stockport County and then at Hull City
New Blades boss Selles was the Tigers head coach during Barry’s time at the MKM Stadium, and he is well aware of the qualities the left-winger possesses.
Via HullLive, Selles said earlier this year: “He’s always a threat when he has the ball, and hopefully, that performance will transform into assists and goals, and he will be as good as any other in the league… I think he’s a really good player.”
Following the end of the season, as the summer window continues, Aston Villa are reportedly “prepared to sell” Barry.
Journalist Peter O’Rourke said on X: “Aston Villa are prepared to sell Leander Dendoncker, Louie Barry and Kaine Kesler-Hayden before the end of the month to help ease any potential PSR concerns.”
The Blades require reinforcements on the left-wing this summer, after Ben Brereton Diaz’s loan spell from Southampton, whose Blades stint concluded with a crunching Trai Hume tackle in the play-off final that saw him withdrawn shortly before Watson’s winner.
Therefore, Sheffield United must reignite their January interest in Barry and secure his signature this summer, as his qualities when fully fit can propel Selles’ Blades to promotion next term.
Ruben Selles before Cardiff City v Hull City - Sky Bet Championship
Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images
Louie Barry praised Ruben Selles when signing on loan at Hull City
Buoyed by his outstanding Stockport loan spell, Barry was poised to set the second tier by storm for the Tigers, and his acquisition on loan was seen as a massive coup for Hull.
However, the 22-year-old would make only four appearances for the Tigers under Selles.
The Bramall Lane faithful will be hoping that Selles can play a major role in attracting the Villa ace to the Blades this summer, as Barry revealed was the case during his Hull loan move.
After signing on loan, Barry told Hull’s website: “I’m really excited. I spoke to the gaffer and he said all the right things. I watched the Sheffield United game (Sheffield United 0 – Hull City 3) and that was a big turning point for me because everything the gaffer said was spot on and came to fruition.”
Selles has great admiration for Barry, and the feeling is clearly mutual on the winger’s part after his praise earlier this season.
Additionally, with Aston Villa “prepared to sell” Barry, the potential deal makes great sense for all parties, and it would see Sheffield United acquire one of English football’s best young forwards.