Sunderland should only do Aston Villa, Louie Barry deal on one condition
The clock is ticking on Louie Barry’s Aston Villa future, with Sunderland reportedly one of the Championship clubs hoping to land his services.
Barry returned to Villa after a successful loan spell with League One’s Stockport County, where he bagged 15 goals and three assists in 23 appearances.
Reports from The Telegraph claim that Villa are looking for £12.5m to land the winger, which is five times more than the highest fee spent by Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus.
Although the Black Cats, who were linked by the Sunday Mirror (page 67, 15/12/2024), should still pursue a deal for Barry, they should seek a loan with such a hefty price tag a deterrent.
Sunderland should only sign Louie Barry on loan amid reported price tag
Sunderland would have been feeling confident about their chances of signing Barry until the news broke of Villa’s reported price tag.
£12.5m would represent a substantial fee for any Football League side apart from the likes of Birmingham City and such a price tag is bound to put off a host of Championship suitors.
It feels almost certain that Louis-Dreyfus would not pursue such a deal, considering the highest fee spent during his tenure was the reported £2.5m spent on Nazariy Rusyn.
While there is no doubting Barry’s quality, it would be foolish for the Black Cats to splash such a figure on a player who has never made a senior appearance above League One.
Patience could be the key to securing Barry’s signature as Villa’s stance could change before the window closes. The West Midlands club will want Barry to leave in January and if no club can meet his valuation, then a loan move will be on the cards.
