Stockport County urged to seal Aston Villa agreement amid Sheffield United uncertainty - Bramall Lane situation is a 'travesty' | OneFootball

FLW's Stockport County fan pundit has given his verdict on a potential return for Louie Barry.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Chris Wilder is set to part ways with a trio of Sheffield United loanees in the January transfer market, including Aston Villa's Louie Barry.

It has been exclusively revealed by Football League World that the 58-year-old Blades boss is planning to remove Tyler Bindon, Ben Godfrey and Barry respectively from the squad when the market opens in the new year.

Wilder was not a part of the club’s summer business after being dismissed as manager in the summer, but he made a surprising return in September after Ruben Selles was sacked.

The trio all arrived on loan, but have struggled for game time since Wilder’s return as manager.

Barry performed well while on loan in League One for Stockport County during the first half of last season, but has been unable to make any kind of impact in the Championship.

Stockport County backed to seal Louie Barry reunion if Sheffield United send him back to Aston Villa

When asked about a possible return in January if he departs Sheffield United, FLW’s Stockport fan pundit, James Cropper, claimed that he proved he’s far beyond League One level last season.

He believes that Aston Villa will likely seek a Championship loan again in the new year, even if he has been unable to show what he can do in the second division from two different loan spells so far.

“I’ve seen their (Sheffield United) fans talking about him not being up to the level, not being up to scratch,” Cropper told Football League World.

“He’s not been in their squad recently, which is a bit of a travesty considering what a young prospect he is because he has still got that talent.

“What he showed at us, he was far, far too good for the level. He made League One defenders look like statues: he was absolutely amazing.

“I think we did rely on him too much, and that showed when he did leave in January. We became a better all-round team, but I think on the situation of us getting him back, I’d probably say Villa will still probably want him to go to a Championship club.

“He went to Hull last season, they spent a lot of money getting him in on loan and he got injured very early on, and he didn’t play much. So the jury was still out then.”

However, Cropper has also claimed that Stockport should push the boat out to try and sign him, even if the squad doesn’t quite need him so much anymore: “It feels like he needs to build up that confidence in League One.

“So I’d say to push the boat out, but we are looking like a very solid unit and I know it’s going to sound very entitled and arrogant, but we probably don’t need him because we’re such a well-oiled machine at this moment in time.

“Obviously, he’d improve us, but we’d have to spend a lot of money to get him in. I think Villa want to continue his development, I don’t think they see him in their plans long-term, as in actually start playing for them.

“I think they just want to increase his market value and sell him on. If that was the case, we probably wouldn’t be able to afford him, but I hope we push the boat out.

“But I can see Villa pushing for a Championship move, maybe. I know Sheffield United have been terrible this season, but they are obviously under-performing.

“They probably want to send him to a team with fewer expectations, like Hull last season, to someone that’s expected to be down there, like an Oxford or something. I think they’d probably prefer that, but I’d love to see him back at County.”

Barry enjoyed two strong loan spells with Stockport, initially joining on loan during the 2023 summer transfer window, where he helped the club gain promotion from League Two with nine goals and four assists in 20 games.

The playmaker went on to rejoin the team again in the summer of last year, contributing 15 goals and two assists from 23 appearances in League One prior to being recalled in January.

Barry’s Hull loan stint in the second half of last season saw him play just four times as the Tigers narrowly avoided relegation from the Championship, with injuries hampering his time at the MKM Stadium.

Game time has been limited since Wilder’s return as manager at Bramall Lane, with the 22-year-old struggling to impress at a second division level.

Amario Cozier-Duberry has excelled this season in League One at Bolton after an underwhelming Championship loan stint last season.

Therefore, perhaps going back to the third tier would be the best for Barry at this stage; if nothing else but to get his confidence back.

Sheffield United have proved a poor destination for him due to their various issues on and off the pitch this season.

Going back to Stockport could help him settle again, and help him thrive in an environment that he knows well, and could provide the final piece in the Hatters' League One promotion puzzle this season.