‘It’s crazy’: Agbonlahor claims Aston Villa 27-year-old has lost his ‘powers’ & ‘pace’

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Gabby Agbonlahor told the Spurs Eye View YouTube Channel that Ross Barkley has lost his ‘powers’ and ‘pace’ at Aston Villa.

In the summer, it was a surprise to many when Villa managed to secure the loan signing of the Chelsea playmaker after he fell out of favour at Stamford Bridge.

Life at Villa couldn’t have started in a better fashion as he made his debut during his side’s remarkable 7-2 win against Liverpool.

And whilst the boyhood Everton fan continued to produce strong performance, since his injury before Christmas, he has looked like a completely different player.

Agbonlahor made it clear that Villa wouldn’t want to put money on the table for his services if the talk arises about making his loan deal permanent.

“I don’t think Villa are going to want to do it,” said Agbonlahor. “He has been on the bench for the last five or six games.

“Why are you going to pay £40 million for someone when you had him on loan and he spent half of it on the bench.

“I am looking at Barkley and I am thinking ‘where’s the Barkley that we all watched at Everton?’. He was sprinting passed everyone. I am talking about pace and power.

“I am watching Barkley, since he’s come back from his injury, and it’s like he has lost his powers. It’s crazy. I cannot believe it. He’s playing an easy pass and he’s not taking anyone on.

“He’s receiving the ball and he’s not running with it. It’s like he has lost his pace overnight. It’s strange – I don’t see Villa making it permanent.”

Villa have youngster Jacob Ramsey coming through the ranks and they are better off progressing him rather than signing Barkley in the summer.

In Barkley’s situation, Villa fans are expecting consistent performances and not moments during the game, such as misplacing a five-yard pass, that you would criticise a youngster for.

Even if Barkley starts ripping it up during the latter stages of the season, it’s best Villa keep their money in their pockets if Chelsea want to discuss a possible transfer.