Aston Villa have reached an agreement to make an offer to sign Luton Town’s top star.
Ross Barkley has been fantastic for Luton Town this season, but their relegation means that he is on the watch list of Premier League teams.
Ross Barkley is set for a Premier League move following Luton Town’s relegation, and he might return to Aston Villa.
Barkley has spoken with Villa, but is expecting an offer from Manchester United for next season.
Barkley was offered a possible England call-up following a successful season at Luton, and negotiations with Villa have been confirmed.
Ross Barkley was relegated to the Championship with Luton Town on Sunday afternoon, as the Hatters’ 4-2 loss at home to Fulham ensured an instant return to the second tier – but he might be handed a Premier League reprieve with Aston Villa prepared to provide a stunning return for his services.
The Everton academy graduate joined Villa on loan under Dean Smith in the 2020-21 season, playing an important role for the club as they finished 11th in the Premier League. While he was not retained at Villa Park, his performances for Luton this season have been nothing short of spectacular, with a potential England call-up being rumored for the midfielder.
His transfer to Luton was surprising even at the time, and following a season in which he was described as “unbelievable” by Hatters colleague Andros Townsend, it is no wonder that he is being linked with a return to the top flight. And Alan Nixon believes that Barkley has spoken with the Villans about a possible return, while he is also awaiting an offer from Manchester United.
Ross Barkley: Transfer News Latest
The former Chelsea player has been outstanding for Luton Town this season.
According to the article, Barkley, 30, has spoken with Villa about staying in the Premier League and is awaiting an offer from the Red Devils.
Villa have made an approach for Barkley, who will decide his next moves after having a brief vacation following a gruelling campaign that saw Luton fight for relegation all the way to the last day despite the odds. Barkley is waiting to see if Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s new-look United recruitment staff will make a move, having already played for an INEOS side when he joined French club Nice on loan last season.
However, talks with Villa have been confirmed, and with Unai Emery looking to bolster his talented squad ahead of a campaign that will see them compete in the Champions League next season, Barkley’s arrival on a free transfer would provide excellent backup for what will be a gruelling year for the West Midlands club.
Barkley would face stiff competition from the likes of Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsey, and Emi Buendia in the creative midfield roles if he joined the Champions League club; however, his talents this season have shown that he can compete at the highest level, and with injuries to Buendia and Ramsey, game time could be plentiful if he signs with Villa.
Ross Barkley: England Call-Up Not Out of the Question
Barkley has 33 caps for England, having made his debut at Everton under Roberto Martinez at the age of 20. He also scored a brace for the Three Lions against Bulgaria in the EURO 2020 qualifying match.
Since Barkley’s absence from the national squad, Gareth Southgate has seen numerous midfielders break through. Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Conor Gallagher, and James Maddison are the major stars in the heart of the park right now, and with some young players emerging this season in Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton, the former Everton man may struggle to break into the team.
But Barkley was the Hatters’ best center-back, and if he was in a more possession-dominant team – Luton had the sixth-lowest possession rate in the division, compared to Villa’s seventh-highest – he would be able to show off his flair and inventiveness even more. If Barkley excels in Villa’s midfield both locally and internationally, a call-up is not out of the question.
