Aston Villa sent clear Louie Barry exit message - Birmingham City & West Brom mentioned | OneFootball

The Villa forward has recently endured a frustrating 12-month period

Former Aston Villa scout Bryan King has issued a claim on the potential future of Louie Barry, and it is one which involves local rivals in the form of Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion.

At present, it is the Villans who are enjoying a period of dominance in the West Midlands footballing circle, albeit Blues and Albion will be hoping to achieve swift returns to the Premier League over time.

Chris Davies' side are currently positioned higher in the Championship, although Birmingham have endured a rather inconsistent return to the second tier, despite being tipped, by many, to mount a sustained push for at least the play-offs after yet another heavy recruitment drive at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park after a record-breaking EFL campaign as League One champions.

Albion, meanwhile, have just entered yet another new managerial era under the ownership of Shilen Patel, with former Minnesota United head coach, Eric Ramsay, taking over at The Hawthorns in place of Ryan Mason, albeit the 34-year-old's immediate focus will be on how he can transform the Baggies' immediate fortunes rather than conducting a major squad overhaul.

That's because, at St. Andrew's, Davies and his recruitment staff have been one of the Championship's most active clubs in the market, both in terms of incomings and outgoings.

Indeed, in a bid to reach the top six in the season's final weeks, Birmingham have already signed Kai Wagner, Jhon Solis, Ibrahim Osman and August Priske, whilst also parting ways with the likes of Eiran Cashin, Dion Sanderson, Emil Hansson, Keshi Anderson and Lyndon Dykes.

Barry has also endured an extremely frustrating 12-month period associated with two Championship clubs, having failed to have the desired impact at both Hull City and Sheffield United on loan from B6.

After suffering injury in his fourth game for the Tigers 11 months ago, the 22-year-old was, once again, acquired on a loan basis by Ruben Selles during the Spaniard's only transfer window at Bramall Lane.

However, after Football League World exclusively revealed that such developments would be taking place, Barry's loan deal was cut short on January 3rd after just nine appearances.

Despite such misfortune, the aforementioned King hasn't ruled out a third chance for the Sutton Coldfield-born forward to prove himself in the Championship, with Blues and Albion namedropped within a fresh claim.

Ex-Aston Villa scout Bryan King drops Louie Barry exit claim involving Birmingham City & West Brom

Despite featuring heavily for Villa's youth sides, it was The Hawthorns where Barry started his still relatively young career before a well-documented switch to FC Barcelona's 'La Masia' setup in the summer of 2019, with it being reported that the Baggies had received £215,000 in compensation from the La Liga giants in his move.

After returning to the West Midlands in January 2020 for £880,000, Barry has endured several loan stints away from Villa Park, with the most successful of those coming in two spells at Stockport County, with a run of 16 goals in 24 games during the first half of last season catching the eye of Championship sides.

Despite an injury-hit stint with Hull, the forward became the subject of strong transfer talk in the summer, with the likes of Derby County, Coventry City and West Brom namedropped as potential destinations, as well as it being reported that Barry's name had been "mentioned internally" at St. Andrew's.

It now remains to be seen what his next move is, and whether it will be on a permanent or loan basis. However, King believes that Barry may have little control over the deal, which could involve Birmingham or West Brom.

”I think if he goes anywhere, it’s got to be on Villa’s terms, not his," he told Villa News.

“I would have thought he’d be ok in the Championship, but I don’t think Sheffield United was the right place.

“(Chris) Wilder didn’t fancy him, and it was difficult for him to get into the side," King added.

“I’d have said someone like Birmingham City or West Brom will want him. That would let Villa keep an eye on him for a local side," the former scout claimed.

“He’s still got a lot to learn, and for now, he’s not going to play for Villa’s first team.

“If a Championship club wants a forward, it’s time for him to move on.“

Louie Barry transfer move would be a big risk for Birmingham City or West Brom

No player has directly moved from Villa Park to St. Andrew's in six years, highlighting how rare it is for Villa and Blues to do business with each other in the first place.

But, taking the bitter rivalries which Birmingham and West Brom have with Villa aside, a switch for Barry would be a huge gamble for Davies or Ramsay to take at this point in time.

Despite acquiring Osman on loan from Brighton, it is apparent that Davies is in the market for further wide reinforcements despite missing out on the signature of Jeremy Sarmiento, with Liverpool prospect, Lewis Koumas, struggling to make an impact in B9.

Albion, of course, have already taken Samuel Iling-Junior on loan from Unai Emery's side this season, with the 22-year-old also becoming the subject of criticism.

It is also hard to see how Barry would fit into Ramsay's current plans as the ex-Manchester United boss continues to stamp his authority on the Baggies lineup, despite an alarming start which saw eight goals conceded in two home fixtures against Middlesbrough and Norwich City.