Aston Villa have opened talks to re-sign Ross Barkley, following Luton’s relegation from the Premier League.
Barkley was the shining light in Luton’s first top-flight campaign since the early nineties with the midfielder reigniting his career after arriving on a free transfer from Nice last summer.
The 30-year-old’s career had stalled during spells at Chelsea and Nice, including an underwhelming loan move to Aston Villa during the 2020/21 campaign.
However, Unai Emery believes Barkley can be an astute addition to his squad after securing Champions League qualification, as Villa prepare to compete in UEFA’s top club competition for the first time since 1983.
Barkley has impressed in a deeper midfield role at Luton and was linked with an England recall, having won the last of his 33 caps in 2019, earlier in the campaign.
According to The Guardian, Barkley’s contract with Luton is understood to run into next season though The Hatters will not stand in his way over an exit. He is expected to be available for a modest fee, and could serve as a cost-effective addition for Villa who are keen to remain compliant with the Premier League’s financial rules.
Villa posted a loss of £119.6m for the 2022/23 campaign and despite a windfall from securing Champions League qualification, the club could need to raise funds through sales.
A permanent exit for Philippe Coutinho will be sought after the Brazilian spent the season on loan at Al-Duhail in Qatar, while offers could also be considered for Diego Carlos and academy graduate Jacob Ramsey.
Jhon Duran could also leave if a suitable offer arrives amid interest from Chelsea and West Ham, with the Colombian having struggled for regular first-team football this season.
