Ross Barkley is reportedly close to completing a return to Aston Villa – three years after his previous loan spell with the club. Playmaker Barkley has enjoyed an excellent season despite Luton Town’s relegation to the Championship, and he is set to remain in the Premier League. For Villa, securing Barkley on a free transfer makes sense from a financial point of view as they look to beef up their squad before their Champions League adventure.
Barkley, 30, scored three goals in 24 appearances during Dean Smith’s tenure as manager of Villa – who had avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth the season before. They bloodied some ‘Big Six’ noses as they began to establish themselves in the top flight again, playing some exciting football with Barkley, Jack Grealish and Ollie Watkins spearheading the attack.
Grealish revealed at the time, just after Barkley had been snared on a loan deal from Chelsea, that he had been pestering the midfielder via text messages to join him at Villa Park. Grealish, who has since moved to Manchester City and has won three successive Premier League titles, described Barkley as ‘unbelievably talented’ and, at the time, considered his arrival at Villa Park to be a ‘statement signing’ for the club.
“I’d been speaking to him for the past three weeks trying to get him to come, messaging him every single day and in the end I was over the moon,” Grealish said, as Barkley’s loan capture was confirmed. “I think he is an unbelievably talented player and I can’t wait to get playing with him. I think that is a big thing, it is a statement signing
Barkley has already confirmed that he would like to have another crack at European football after leaving Luton. The Everton academy product won a host of club awards at their end of season ceremony and Barkley believes he still has a number of years ahead of him at English football’s top table – and, potentially, on the continent too.
“I feel like for the next three years maybe I’ll still be in my prime years,” he told Sky Sports last month. “I’m enjoying all the moments because I know over the last few years there’s been ups and downs, frustrations and great moments and now I feel ready to be at my best, consistent, in a great place in my head as well. I haven’t had a lot of mileage over the last few years in my legs, so I feel fresh.
“I want to play in the Premier League. I want to play in Europe again but I’m not really focused on that now. I want to help the club stay in the league. I love the club. It’s helped me so much and I owe them a lot. So I’m focused on that and thinking about nothing other than helping them do that.”
