Aston Villa and Hull City are reportedly making progress in transfer talks over a move for talented youngster Louie Barry.
The 22-year-old has emerged as one of the top talents at the club since he arrived from Barcelona in 2020, as although he hasn’t been able to make a breakthrough at senior level for Villa, he has built on his impressive form at youth level by enjoying some productive loan spells elsewhere, albeit his progress has been disrupted by injuries along the way.
READ MORE: Medical scheduled as top Villa talent set for permanent exit
He showed his quality and potential at Stockport County in particular with 25 goals and seven assists in 46 appearances, and he could get the opportunity to play regularly in a prominent role to really showcase his ability on a more consistent basis moving forward amid the latest talk over his future.
Barry’s form has attracted further interest in him, and according to the Hull Daily Mail, progress was made over the weekend in talks between Villa and Hull, with the respective club owners said to have spoken directly to try and get a deal done.
It’s unclear at this stage what kind of fee would be involved, but coupled with the expected departure of Kaine Kesler-Hayden to Coventry City, Villa may well have made the necessary moves to avoid any issues as we reach the June 30 deadline for PSR.
Naturally, it’s always preferable to see our youth prospects make it in the first-team, but it’s a strategy that Villa have utilised sensibly in recent years as selling players from our Academy is a significant way to help balance our books and avoid sanctions. Further, with the competition for places they face in the current squad with the experience and depth that we have across the board, it’s difficult to see how and where they could make a breakthrough, and so exits do make a lot of sense for all concerned.
Kesler-Hayden and Barry were among the highest rated young players in the team that won the FA Youth Cup in 2021, but it appears as though the pair could soon join the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Tim Iroegbunam, Cameron Archer, Omari Kellyman and others in being sold in recent years, and it’s hoped that if that is the case, they go on to enjoy successful careers elsewhere.
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