Why Sheffield United might not be able to sign Aston Villa’s Ross Barkley in the summer | OneFootball

Sheffield United were linked with a deal to sign Ross Barkley in the January transfer window

Sheffield United will need an excellent end of form to the end of the season in order to retain their place in the play-offs.

The Blades had a disastrous start to the campaign, which led to the swift return of Chris Wilder as manager just months after he departed following the loss to Sunderland in the play-off final.

A 2-1 defeat at Wembley Stadium ended both the club’s hopes of top flight football and the 58-year-old’s second stint in charge.

But he returned in September after Ruben Selles oversaw five defeats from the opening five fixtures of the new Championship term.

The Yorkshire outfit have earned their way back into the battle for a top six finish, but they are still nine points adrift of sixth place Wrexham.

Sheffield United are in their second year back in the second division following their Premier League relegation in 2024.

Sheffield United’s Ross Barkley transfer stumbling block

Sheffield United were linked with a deal to sign Ross Barkley in the January transfer window, which failed to come to fruition.

According to Football Insider, it is unlikely that the Blades will be able to re-enter the race for his signature in the summer.

It’s believed that the midfielder’s wage demands will be too high for the club, provided they remain in the Championship.

Barkley is under contract at Aston Villa until the summer of 2027, and the Premier League side are not actively seeking to sell him.

The 32-year-old has made 11 appearances in the top flight for Unai Emery’s side this season, with the team chasing qualification for the Champions League.

Estimated figures from Capology reveal that Barkley currently earns £60,000 per week from the Midlands outfit.

Meanwhile, Japhet Tanganga is the Championship team’s highest paid permanent player, with the defender receiving £35,000 per week.

Sheffield United are currently 13th in the second division table, nine points adrift of the play-off places with only 11 fixtures remaining.

The Blades have won three of their last four games in the league, which has brought them ahead of the likes of Stoke City and QPR.

However, they’ve lost a point to sixth place Wrexham in that time, with Phil Parkinson’s side earning 10 from their last 12.

Next up for Wilder’s team is a home clash against relegation-threatened West Brom on 7 March in a 3pm kick-off at Bramall Lane.

Ross Barkley signing was always a tough prospect

Barkley has had a renewed run in the team in the last month or so, with Villa enduring something of an injury crisis.

This has highlighted the importance of the 32-year-old to Emery’s plans, even if he has been a substitute in all 11 of his top flight appearances this season.

Given Villa are also competing in European competition, his place in the squad as a rotation option makes him quite valuable, so it’s not surprising that they’d rather keep him for another 12 months.

So it was always going to be a long shot for Sheffield United to sign him, and only promotion to the Premier League may now bring them back into contention for this summer.