England international tipped for free transfer exit from Aston Villa
Aston Villa are likely to lose a senior player on a free transfer next summer, according to a former club scout.
Ross Barkley was left out of Villa’s Europa League squad by manager Unai Emery and is unlikely to agree a contract extension before his deal runs out in June.
Barkley, who has won 33 senior international caps with England, doesn’t seem to be in Emery’s plans and his struggle for fitness hasn’t done him any favours. Former Villa scout Bryan King believes that the former Everton and Chelsea midfielder is coming to the end of his time at the club.
“He’s not going to be a member of the Europa League squad, and he’s not going to play regularly in the Premier League,” King told Caught Offside.
“He’s out of contract at the end of the season, and I think he’ll be leaving Villa on a free as well, to be honest.”
Barkley’s departure is made all the more likely by Villa’s need to do away with his salary, which is an unnecessary burden if he’s not in the frame for regular first team football.
The 31-year-old has been linked with a return to Merseyside, with Everton touted as a possible destination on a future free transfer. Liverpool-born Barkley was on Everton’s books from 2005 to 2018, when he headed south to Chelsea.
Barkley beset by injuries at Villa
He first joined Villa on loan in the 2020/21 season. He made a big impact straight away, scoring in the famous 7-2 win over Liverpool at an empty Villa Park and, crucially, in a 2-1 victory against Leicester City.
But Barkley suffered a hamstring injury and was sidelined for almost two months as Villa battled their way to safety in a pressurised relegation battle. He scored a winner against Southampton on his return, adding two points that made all the difference.
After loaning him to Villa, Chelsea sold Barkley to Ligue 1 side Nice in 2022. He was snapped up a year later by newly promoted Luton Town, where he put in a hugely impressive season despite the Hatters’ relegation.
Barkley caught the attention of Emery and moved to Villa from Kenilworth Road for a small transfer fee last summer. His time at Villa has been marred by a series of injury lay-offs that have badly limited his playing time and likely cost him a place in the Europa League squad.
If King’s prognosis is any indicator, those injuries might yet have put paid to his Villa career.
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