Louie Barry, a highly regarded young talent, is reportedly on the cusp of attracting a significant seven-figure bid from Celtic, amid interest from several clubs, including Derby County. According to Derbyshire Live, the Scottish giants have been informed that the 21-year-old winger is "ready" for a transfer, prompting them to consider an initial offer to test Aston Villa's resolve as interest in the player intensifies.
Barry recently returned to Villa following a successful loan spell at Stockport County, where he made a notable impact by netting 16 goals. Although Aston Villa have reportedly extended a new contract offer to him, Barry has yet to commit, which has led to heightened interest from multiple Championship clubs, alongside Celtic.
Former Celtic defender Michael Gray has weighed in on the potential move, suggesting that Barry would be a valuable asset to Brendan Rodgers’ squad as the manager looks to enhance his options on the left wing. In a recent interview with Betfred, Gray expressed confidence in Barry's readiness for a higher level of competition, stating, "I do, yes. He was brilliant for Stockport on loan, banging in goals left, right and centre."
Gray also highlighted the competitive nature of the market surrounding Barry, noting, "I know he's gone back to his parent club, but that speculation isn't going to go away. It might be Celtic, but there's a lot of Championship sides probably looking at him and think he could be the difference in elevating their playoff chances."
As Derby County seeks to bolster their attacking options amid concerns of relegation in the Championship, they have already made a move in the transfer market by signing Lars-Jorgen Salvesen from Viking FK for an undisclosed fee, marking their first acquisition of the January transfer window. The club is prioritising the addition of a winger and a creative midfielder while also preparing for potential departures, with at least one player expected to leave within the next 24 hours.
In summary, Louie Barry’s future remains uncertain as clubs compete for his signature. With interest from both Celtic and Derby County, the coming days could prove crucial in determining where the young winger will continue his promising career.