Aston Villa are reportedly engaged in discussions with promising forward Louie Barry regarding a new contract, as per Football Insider. The club recently recalled the 21-year-old from a fruitful loan spell at Stockport County, where he made a significant impact with his performances earlier this month. Villa are currently deliberating whether to retain him within the squad or to send him out on loan again, ideally to a club competing at a higher level than League One.
Before any decisions regarding a potential loan for the latter half of the season are finalised, Villa's immediate priority is to secure Barry's future with a revised contract. The young forward has garnered interest from several clubs in the Championship and the Scottish Premiership, with Celtic, the current leaders of the Scottish league, among those keen to acquire his services.
Barry signed his existing contract with Villa prior to his loan to Stockport and could see a similar arrangement materialise this month, following his impressive contributions in the third tier. During his time at Stockport, he netted 16 goals in 24 appearances, with an outstanding 15 of those goals coming in League One. His consistent goal-scoring prowess has been evident throughout his development in both the third and fourth divisions.
Since joining Aston Villa in 2020, Barry has been loaned out to various clubs, including Ipswich Town, Swindon Town, MK Dons, Salford City, and most recently, Stockport. The club is now meticulously assessing his next steps. This season, Barry has primarily operated as a left winger for Stockport but has also demonstrated versatility by taking on the role of centre-forward when required.
In addition to their focus on Barry, Villa have bolstered their attacking options this month with the acquisition of Dutch international Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund. Despite his evident potential, Barry has made only one senior appearance for Villa, scoring in an FA Cup match against Liverpool back in 2021.
Furthermore, Aston Villa have clarified their stance regarding a new offer for defender Diego Carlos, as the club continues to navigate the complexities of the transfer market. For fans eager to stay informed about ongoing developments at Aston Villa, following the club on social media will provide real-time updates.