Aston Villa transfer update as midfielder targeted by Premier League rivals Leeds United: report

Aston Villa are in the throes of preparation for the January transfer window and there could be players sold as well as bought.

Villa have areas where they need to improve, strengthen or both. Other clubs undoubtedly have eyes on Villa players too, not least the ones who could solve their problems and might be ripe for picking off due to a lack of playing time or a favourable contract situation.

According to a report by The Leeds Press, midfielder Ross Barkley is a possible January transfer target for newly promoted Premier League outfit Leeds United.

“Ross Barkley had a terrible four-game loan spell at Leeds United when he was younger and was recalled by Everton,” enthuses the report. “However, the attacking midfielder could be returning to Elland Road more than a decade later.”

The 31-year-old was loaned to Leeds for a month by Everton in January 2013, when he was 19 years old. He started to crack the Toffees first team the following season.

“The Aston Villa midfielder has been linked with a return to Elland Road, with Leeds expected to prioritise players with Premier League experience when the window reopens in the winter,” adds The Leeds Press.

“Leeds consider Barkley an option amongst several other players, with Daniel Farke keen to add a creative midfielder to his squad in January. Barkley will turn 32 in December, so a loan move until the end of the season would be the most likely route should Leeds go in for him.

“It’s believed Barkley is keen for more game time, and a successful loan switch to Elland Road could give him an outside chance of a place in the England World Cup squad.”

Barkley’s season so far

Former England international Barkley has played an increasing amount of minutes from the bench in Villa’s last four matches in the Premier League, culminating in half an hour in Saturday night’s defeat against Liverpool at Anfield.

Prior to those four appearances, Barkley had been unavailable since the start of the season due, it’s understood, to a minor injury followed by a period of absence for undisclosed personal reasons.

Barkley was the unfortunate odd man out when Villa manager Unai Emery named his squad for the Europa League. He is ineligible for Europa League matches as a result.

He first joined Villa on loan in 2020, scoring three goals in 24 Premier League matches. After a spell in France with Nice, the midfielder found his feet in an impressive stint with Luton Town. Emery moved to bring him back to Villa Park on a permanent basis in the summer of 2024.

Amid apparent interest from Leeds, Barkley will be unavailable for Villa’s next match against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League on Thursday but will be expected to feature in some form against AFC Bournemouth on Sunday.

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