If Villa Pulled Off This Deal It Would Infuriate West Brom

When Aston Villa drafted in former West Bromwich Albion Academy Manager, Mark Harrison, it led to plenty of inevitable speculation that we would look to raid their youth setup as we rebuilt ours for the future, but I imagine few saw us being linked with a move for Louie Barry.

The 16-year-old ditched them a few months back for Barcelona and it seems that things have gone a little bit pearshaped for the teenager, with a payment dispute between both clubs (now with FIFA) and the fact the England youth international hasn’t settled properly out in Spain.

Aston Villa are in talks with Barcelona over £1.5m deal for 16-year-old English striker Louie Barry. [daily mail] #avfc

— villareport (@villareport) January 7, 2020

The suggestion is he wants to return home and Barcelona are happy to cut their losses for around the £1.5million mark and that’s some profit already for them given the youth structure in place in England.

The Daily Mail report states we are in prime position for his capture now and given how highly rated he was at The Hawthorns, as shown by Barca’s interest to begin with, that would be quite a statement by us when it came to reestablishing our Academy.

Granted it’s not particular the type of signing fans had their eye on this month given our first team situation, but with an eye to the future, his capture would put us back on the map at that level.

That’s a crazy attitude. We need to be recruiting at all levels. He’s a talent and Villa fan. So do the whole academy stop while Suso scours the senior market?

— The Villa Decree 🇱🇻🇫🇲🇱🇻🇫🇲 (@TheVillaDecree) January 7, 2020

Talented player, don't know exactly what Smith has in mind for him but he is definitely worth having on the books. UTV 👍👍

— The Vile Villan (@TheVileVillan) January 7, 2020

This is exactly what our club should be doing, snapping up all the highly-rated upcoming players and building for the future, City do it Chelsea do it loaning them out gaining experience and value, chill this is a good thing UTV!! pic.twitter.com/rML7jm49Ez

— MrAVFClive (@PrideOfMids) January 7, 2020

In his first interview he mentioned him and saying how did Villa miss out!

— David Nealon (@Dpn76) January 7, 2020

Villa fan! Bring him home.

Could be world class if given the right direction.

— Matt AVFC (@everysongsung) January 7, 2020

Worth reading the article – a couple of reasons for him to move. If he's good enough for Barca to sign him I'll take him at #avfc please

— James Hanrahan (@james_hanrahan) January 7, 2020