Aston Villa journalist Ashley Preece has been sharing his thoughts on Villa youngster Louie Barry and his future with the Midlands club.
This comes after Preece made an appearance on a recent episode of the Birmingham Mail’s Claret & Blue Podcast where he spoke about a number of topics concerning Dean Smith’s side.
On the subject of Barry and his future with Villa, specifically next season, Preece was asked if there’s a possibility the club would look to loan Barry out to a Championship club.
In response, Preece had this to say on the matter.
He said: “I wouldn’t say Championship, I’d probably say a European team I think that’s the way he suits. I think he could go to the Dutch league or the Belgian league or something exciting. I think Chelsea and their youngsters, they send them out to the European leagues, that could be an option for Louie Barry.
“[He’s] played in Europe previously before for Barcelona, I’m right behind his talents. I see him most weeks for the U23s and just scores for fun, was banging in the goals so in terms of next season, I think he’ll be in around the first team in pre-season, Dean Smith will have a look at him, see what he’s got.
“I think they want to beef him up a little bit more. He’s still got to mature a little bit in terms of his build but [he’s] a 17-year-old kid, Villa went all out to get him from Barcelona and an exciting talent, make no mistake about it, he’s one of the most natural finishers at the football club, just look at his goal he took against Liverpool and he’s been scoring ever since, so, in terms of his next season prospects, I think they should be ramped up.”
TIF Thoughts on Ashley Preece’s comments on Barry and his future…
Barry joined Villa’s U18 squad from Barcelona’s U18 side back in the 2020 January transfer window for a fee of £943k as Preece mentioned in the podcast.
Since then, the 17-year-old, who is currently valued at £900k, has made two appearances for Villa’s U18 side, scoring two goals and providing one assist, made 16 appearances for their U23 side, scoring 12 goals and providing one assist as well as one appearance for their senior side in which he managed to score against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side in an FA Cup match (per Transfermarkt).
Taking into account how many goals Barry has scored for Villa’s youth sides and the senior team since his arrival at the club, it’s understandable why Preece thinks a potential loan move to a European club could be a better fit for the teenager rather than a club in the Championship.
Do you think Villa should loan out Louie Barry next season?
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In our view, given how Villa currently have Ollie Watkins, Wesley and Keinan Davis in their squad that occupy the centre-forward position, it seems that a loan move away from the club where he can get some regular playing time at a big club would be a good move for Barry and a great way for Villa to see just how he fares.
In other news: ‘A missed opportunity’ – AVFC journalist slams ‘strange’ Dean Smith decision at Liverpool