Aston Villa will recall Louie Barry from his disastrous loan spell at Ipswich Town once the window opens, with Swindon Town keen to secure a temporary transfer for the striker.
That’s according to Birmingham Live, who report Villa expect Barry back at their training ground as early as next week. The Villans hierarchy are eager to cut short his season-long stay Portman Road, having failed to breakthrough into the Tractor Boys’ first-team fold.
Barry joined Ipswich on the eve of the season starting in August with the view of securing regular senior minutes. But his campaign so far has only returned six appearances for 286-minutes. He has also not featured outside of the EFL Trophy since the end of August.
Former Ipswich boss Paul Cook additionally only named Barry in one of his final 14 League One matchday squads. His caretaker replacement, John McGreal, also omitted the 18-year-old from the Tractor Boys team during his three at the helm before hiring Kieran McKenna.
The change in leadership at Portman Road could afford Barry more chances to feature. But Villa plan to take the Sutton Coldfield-born striker back to Birmingham as soon as possible.
Swindon lurking for loan transfer of Aston Villa gem Barry
Swindon are lurking with a view to securing a loan transfer for Barry if Aston Villa end his Ipswich stay. The Robins are battling for promotion out of League Two, but currently sit outside the play-off positions.
Ben Garner’s side sit eight, behind play-off incumbents Exeter on goal difference, but have played a game less. They have also played two fewer than Newport and Sutton United.
However, only fifth-place Tranmere Rovers have scored less than Swindon among the sides above the Robins in the table. They have scored just 18 in 21 games to Swindon’s 29 so far.
Barry could offer Swindon an extra goal threat with Aston Villa considering a loan transfer to a League Two side. He scored 13 times in 17 games for the Villans’ U23s last season. So, while he has struggled at Ipswich, the striker is unlikely to stay at Bodymoor Heath for long.
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