"Don't think he improves what we have" - Birmingham City told to avoid Aston Villa transfer swoop | OneFootball

Birmingham City have been linked with a move for Aston Villa forward Louie Barry.

Birmingham City have had a busy summer transfer window so far under new boss Chris Davies, and the Blues are continuing to be linked with potential new arrivals as they prepare to bounce straight back to the Championship next season.

Birmingham suffered relegation from the second tier last season, after a 1-0 victory against Norwich City on the final day was not enough to lift them out of the bottom three, subsequently becoming the first team to be relegated to League One with at least 50 points since Blackburn Rovers went down with 51 at the end of the 2016/17 campaign.

The Blues have not been messing about in the summer transfer window so far, with seven new signings already in through the door and further additions set to be made before the opening day of next season against Reading at St. Andrew's.

According to data from Transfermarkt, all seven of Birmingham's new players rank in the top 10 most expensive arrivals in League One this summer, while Christoph Klarer and Willum Thor Willumsson are listed as the two most expensive signings ever in League One.

It is clear that Birmingham's owners are attempting to build one of the strongest squads in the history of the third tier, as they look to return to the Championship at the first time of asking, and it is unlikely that their business is finished yet.

Birmingham City urged to look elsewhere amid Aston Villa, Louie Barry rumours

Birmingham are interested in making a move for a player from their bitterest of rivals - Aston Villa - in the form of versatile forward Louie Barry, according to Football Insider.

The 21-year-old, who has been on the books at Barcelona in the past, spent last season on loan at Stockport County and helped them win promotion from League Two, although he spent much of the campaign on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

The Blues have already brought in last season's League One Golden Boot winner Alfie May from Charlton Athletic, whilst experienced striker Lukas Jutkiewicz has penned a new one-year deal ahead of next season.

They could do with slightly more depth up-front though to ensure that Davies will have enough options in that area of the pitch during the 2024/25 campaign, so it is not a huge surprise to see them linked with a move for another forward.

FLW's Blues fan pundit, Mike Gibbs, is not convinced by the potential signing of Barry however, suggesting that the player would not be an improvement on Birmingham's current options.

"I'm not sure, or convinced, on the Louie Barry one," Gibbs told Football League World.

"He was on loan last season at Stockport and I think he did OK, nine goals in around about 20 games, but I wouldn't exactly say he tore it up.

"I just don't see the fit really. A) him coming from Villa, I don't necessarily think he improves what we've got. It's a loan as well, so I'm just not really sure I see the point of it. "I think I'd rather us be buying, or taking a loan maybe, someone who's proven at Championship level to come down and perform.

"For me, I'd say no."

Birmingham City may need to turn to other attacking options away from Louie Barry

As per the report, Aston Villa are happy for Barry to go out on loan provided he will be given enough first-team opportunities to make the move worthwhile.

While he is likely to gain experience being part of a successful League One team at Birmingham, he may not get as much first-team action as he wants, given the Blues already have arguably the best striker in the division and a capable back-up in Jutkiewicz - and if he plays out wide, the likes of Emil Hansson and Koji Miyoshi are very talented wingers that he'd have to try and usurp.

There is no doubt that Birmingham will have shortlisted alternative options in case they are unable to convince Villa that St. Andrew's is the right destination for Barry.

Based on what Mike had to say about the situation, exploring other potential signings with recent experience of playing in a higher division could be more beneficial than bringing in a player who has spent the last couple of seasons in League Two.