Ross Barkley is reportedly close to completing a return to Aston Villa – three years after his previous loan spell with the club. Playmaker Barkley has enjoyed an excellent season despite Luton Town’s relegation to the Championship, and he is set to remain in the Premier League. For Villa, securing Barkley on a free transfer makes sense from a financial point of view as they look to beef up their squad before their Champions League adventure.
Barkley, 30, scored three goals in 24 appearances during Dean Smith’s tenure as manager of Villa – who had avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth the season before. They bloodied some ‘Big Six’ noses as they began to establish themselves in the top flight again, playing some exciting football with Barkley, Jack Grealish and Ollie Watkins spearheading the attack.
Grealish revealed at the time, just after Barkley had been snared on a loan deal from Chelsea, that he had been pestering the midfielder via text messages to join him at Villa Park. Grealish, who has since moved to Manchester City and has won three successive Premier League titles, described Barkley as ‘unbelievably talented’ and, at the time, considered his arrival at Villa Park to be a ‘statement signing’ for the club.
