Aston Villa star formerly of Barcelona expected to complete exit and join Sheffield Utd ‘in the next 48 hours’

Aston Villa have had a challenging summer so far as Unai Emery’s side build for another European challenge while aiming to ensure they fend off looming PSR complications.

The Villains reportedly eased any financial concerns by selling their women’s team, but still faced a recent £9.5m fine from UEFA and will be under strict watch in the coming months to ensure the rules are kept to at Villa Park.

Incomings have been scarce so far while the Villains have had to contend with interest in the likes of Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins, neither of whom they have any intention of selling at present. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has also been consistently linked with an exit.

It has become clear who may be the next to finalise an exit from Villa Park, with a loan move expected for a player who was once seen as a huge part of the club’s future.

Louie Barry set for loan move away

According to reports by the Express & Star, Aston Villa forward Louie Barry will complete a loan move to Sheffield United ‘in the next 48 hours’. The 22-year-old has long been viewed as a huge talent but has yet to make the grade in the Premier League, with another Championship loan move viewed as the best step for his development.

Barry was reportedly close to agreeing a permanent exit to Hull City earlier in the window before a deal collapsed. The Tigers are now under a transfer embargo so a move there will not be possible at present. Barry previously spent time on loan with Hull last season, but will see a loan to play-off finalists Sheffield United as a step up. City rivals Birmingham City had also been previously linked.

The Express & Star’s report states that Barry is not part of Unai Emery’s plans for the season ahead, despite having featured in both their pre-season outings so far. A move to Yorkshire has therefore been arranged for the young striker, with the Premier League a possible next step if he can impress while playing for the promotion-chasing Blades.

Barry set to reunite with Ruben Selles

Barry was once on the books at Barcelona and was a major coup when he signed for Villa in 2020. He scored on his professional debut for the club against Liverpool in a January 2021 FA Cup tie and at the time was viewed by some as a major part of Villa’s future.

Since then he has been out on loan seven times, gradually working his way through the lower tiers before exploding with 15 goals in half a season with League One high-flyers Stockport County last campaign. He earnt a move to Hull as a result, with Bramall Lane beckoning as his next port of call. Barry played under Ruben Selles at Hull last season and the Portuguese has since become the new manager of Sheffield United, which may be a deciding factor in the Villa man’s proposed move to the Blades.

Selles said of Barry’s proposed arrival: “I expect to have, as I said, two or three days ago, I expect to have a couple of players in the building in the next two to five days. Louie has been there, we know him really well so we’ll see what happens in the next couple of days.”