Three years after his last loan stint with Aston Villa, Ross Barkley is supposedly almost finished with his comeback to the club. Despite Luton Town’s drop to the Championship, the playmaker has had a fantastic season and will likely stay in the Premier League. Barkley’s free transfer makes financial sense for Villa, who are trying to bolster their team in anticipation of their Champions League run. Barkley, who is now thirty, managed Villa under Dean Smith for one season in which the team just missed relegation and scored three goals in twenty-four games
They bloodied some ‘Big Six’ noses as they began to establish themselves in the top flight again, playing exciting football with Barkley, Jack Grealish, and Ollie Watkins spearheading the attack. Grealish revealed at the time, just after Barkley had been secured on a loan deal from Chelsea, that he had been pestering the midfielder via text messages to join him at Villa Park. Grealish, who has since moved to Manchester City and won three successive Premier League titles, described Barkley as ‘unbelievably talented’ and considered his arrival at Villa Park to be a statement signing’ for the club.
“I’d been speaking to him for the past three weeks trying to get him to come, messaging him every single day, and in the end, I was over the moon,” Grealish said, as Barkley’s loan capture was confirmed. “I think he is an unbelievably talented player, and I can’t wait to get playing with him. I think that is a big thing; it is a statement signing.” Barkley has already confirmed that he would like another crack at European football after leaving Luton. The Everton academy product won a host of club awards at their end-of-season ceremony, and Barkley believes he still has a number of years ahead of him at English football’s top table—and potentially on the continent too.
He said to Sky Sports last month, “I feel like for the next three years, maybe I’ll still be in my prime years.” “I’m savoring every minute since I know that the past few years have been filled with highs and lows, difficulties, and wonderful times. I feel like I’m ready to perform at my highest level right now, consistently and mentally. I feel fresh because I haven’t traveled far in the past few years. Though I’m not particularly focused on it right now, I would like to play in the Premier League and in Europe once more. Aiding the team to remain in the league is my goal. I owe the club a great deal because it has greatly aided me. I adore them. Thus, I’m focused on that and thinking about nothing other than helping them achieve that.”
