"The next Louie Barry" - Stockport County: Dave Challinor reacts to Aston Villa recall talk | OneFootball

Nearly half of the clubs in the second tier are reportedly interested in Barry.

Dave Challinor believes that Louie Barry would want to stay with Stockport County for the remainder of the season, if he had a choice, amid links with a January move to a host of Championship clubs.

If you're going through the teams in the top half of the second tier who haven't been associated with the Aston Villa loanees name in recent weeks, it'd probably be shorter just to go through those who aren't reported to be interested in a move for him in the new year.

Leeds United are the most recent ones to be thrown into the mix, alongside Middlesbrough and Sheffield United, just to name a few. Boro are considered to be the favourites to win the race for Barry, who, according to Darren Witcoop, will be recalled from Stockport by Villa in January so that he can make a move to the Championship.

Dave Challinor makes bold Louie Barry, Stockport County claim

The forward's parent club may feel that testing him in the second tier will be best for his development, and also maybe their chances of making a good bit of profit from the former Barcelona academy member. But what does he think would be best for him? His manager thinks he knows the answer.

"We obviously hope that he (Barry) can stay with us and score another 15 goals in the back-end of the season," Challinor said amid the 21-year-old's Championship links to BBC Sport Manchester.

"I'm quite selfishly going to say that, that monetises his value more than going to a Championship club and not having the impact or getting the same amount of minutes that he's having here.

"But, again, that's out of our control. So we can't concern that. We know for certain that we've got Louie with us until the Mansfield game, after the Birmingham (City) game. Decisions will probably be made before that, around what it looks like, but that's where we are.

"Our work doesn't stop, whether it be now or in six months' time, and the same six months ago. We're looking for the next Louie Barry that can impact our team as he has. And if that is required then that's what we have to do.

"We all hope that's not the case. I'm sure if you ask Louie he probably hopes that's not the case because he's in a really good place, but decisions have to be made that are out of our control and we've just got to deal with it."

Edgeley Park may be the best place for Barry, but that may not matter

There's no doubt that Stockport has provided Barry with a brilliant environment to succeed in. We shouldn't forget that the Hatters weren't the first team that he joined on loan. He was with another lower league Greater Manchester side, Salford City, as well as Ipswich Town, Swindon Town and MK Dons before landing at County.

He never thrived or stood out, particularly, with them, but something about Stockport has just worked for him. Indeed, he may make a move to a second tier side in the new year and have an Alexis Sanchez moment, quickly realising after arriving at his new home that it's the comfort of his old one which he desires.

But it may not be down to him, because if he does take the step up in his stride and continues to impress, then Villa will have clubs from all around throwing themselves at them to try and secure Barry's signature next summer.

That is what their vision for him is, most likely, and the quickest way to get to that point will be by bypassing the remaining months he has left at Edgeley Park.