Birmingham City have expressed interest in signing Aston Villa striker Louie Barry, sources have informed Football Insider. Villa might allow the highly-regarded 21-year-old to leave on loan if he receives sufficient first-team opportunities. Following their relegation from the Championship last season, Birmingham City is eager to strengthen their squad for an immediate promotion push.
Barry, who spent last season on loan at League One side Stockport County, was highly coveted when he joined Aston Villa from Barcelona in 2019. Despite the rivalry between the two clubs, this move might not be well-received by either set of fans, although Barry started his career at West Brom.
Aston Villa is expected to approve Louie Barry’s move. During his time at West Brom, Barry was one of the most sought-after young talents in the country. He transferred to Barcelona before returning to the Midlands. Barry excelled in Aston Villa’s youth setup, scoring eight goals in eight appearances before advancing to the Under-23s, where he netted 14 goals in 18 appearances. He then experienced several loans across the English football pyramid.
If Barry gets the go-ahead to leave, Aston Villa will face a shortage of forwards, especially with Moussa Diaby likely to depart for Saudi Arabia.