Ross Barkley return makes perfect sense for Champion’s League Villa
During his previous time at Aston Villa, Ross Barkley faced multiple setbacks such as injuries and other problems. However, would a more developed midfielder be advantageous for Emery’s team?
Rewriting: Author: Regan Foy | Twitter: @findfoy
As the end of the season approaches, fans of Aston Villa are talking about the possibility of a former favorite of Dean Smith coming back for the team's first Champions League campaign in years. However, there is another possibility being considered.
The possibility of Jack Grealish coming back to Villa Park has been discussed for weeks now. However, it's another midfielder from England who is making the first important transfer headlines of the summer.
As per The Guardian, Unai Emery and Monchi, the sporting director, have been active this summer. They're close to securing the permanent transfer of Ross Barkley, who was on loan at the club four years ago.
The person who is 30 years old just finished a remarkable season at Luton. He played so well that people are talking about him potentially being a part of the team for EURO 2024 in Germany. In many important games for Luton this season, Barkley was one of the top performers on the field. He played a crucial role in dictating the pace of the game from a deeper position, which meant that there were fewer opportunities to score goals, but he was able to rack up good numbers elsewhere on the field.
For many years, Barkley had a lot of promise that went unfulfilled. When he played for Villa under Dean Smith, he started off strong but his performance went downhill after an injury. However, Barkley has been making a comeback at Luton and it's been impressive to see. The Hatters were able to turn around a player who had a bad reputation. Frank Lampard, who used to be the manager of Chelsea, criticized Barkley's professionalism in the past. But now, Barkley has become a dependable player in the midfield.
Unai Emery has made some noteworthy signings during his time as manager, with a mix of expensive and clever acquisitions. One such example was the addition of Youri Tielemans, who joined the team as a free agent after his contract ended with Leicester City. Additionally, Morgan Rogers' arrival in January has proven to be a fantastic deal for the Villans, given his impressive performance in the last five months.
When Barkley joins the team, there appears to be little risk for a club that will play in the Champions League next season. It's anticipated that there will be a minimal fee for acquiring the Luton midfield player, who is believed to have one year left on his contract with the Hatters. His "inexpensive" arrival will boost the team's roster, which had a hard time with injuries throughout the previous season. This addition will also provide a real option for replacing injured deep midfielders instead of trying to force Tielemans and McGinn into those positions.
Additionally, it would be beneficial to add another proficient English player to comply with UEFA's registration requirements for the upcoming season. As Aston Villa is expected to sell players like Calum Chambers in the summer, having more "homegrown" players would not affect the size of the European squad. Furthermore, considering the limited senior options on the bench during the Semi-Finals against Olympiacos, it would be advantageous to have additional experienced players to fulfill the quota.
Ross has undeniable talent and has shown a strong determination to end his career on a high note during his time at Luton. As a player with experience competing in the Champions League and 33 appearances for England, Ross could be a valuable addition to a team that needs a player willing to be flexible with their matchday participation, as long as they are still considered a key player on the team. This would be similar to Tielemans, who initially expressed some dissatisfaction with his playing time earlier in the season.
Barkley provides helpfulness as well. Even though Emery, Monchi and even Manchester United have been impressed by his performances for Luton in a more defensive position, he has also excelled in the number 10 position before and had good chemistry with Ollie Watkins when he first played for Aston Villa.
Additionally, it appears that the midfielder has moved on from his past injury struggles, having played in 37 matches across different competitions for the Hatters last year. This is a significant improvement from the limited playing time he had at OGC Nice, which competes in France's Ligue 1.
Villa has a great opportunity to acquire Barkley after his successful season with Luton. Based on Emery's impressive record of transfers to the Villans and Barkley's potential, fans will probably have faith in the decision if it happens. Additionally, the manager is known for his ability to enhance players' skills.
It is reasonable to consider the potential agreement. It is expected that the fee will be not be high. Barkley expressed his desire to return to the Premier League this summer. If this agreement goes through, it could herald the beginning of an intriguing summer for Aston Villa.
