Aston Villa veteran midfielder could be staying for another season despite rumours of his exit earlier this summer.
Aston Villa have lost several key figures this summer and could lose even more if potential suitors are willing to meet their asking prices or release clauses. Earlier this summer, Villa were more than ready to part ways with one of their veteran midfielders, who was even excluded from the Europa League squad last season. The aforementioned player is Ross Barkley.
However, based on the latest update, his departure may not materialise after all, as reported by the Coventry Telegraph.
“Coventry City’s summer pursuit of Aston Villa’s Ross Barkley appears to have hit a snag as Unai Emery appears ready to ‘persuade’ him to stay.”
Earlier this summer, Coventry City, the newly promoted side led by Frank Lampard, were keen on signing him. Such a move would have been perfect for him, as Barkley already knows Lampard well from their Chelsea days. Both also played together for the Three Lions in the mid-2010s.
The former Everton and Nice man would have been guaranteed regular playing time and could have been given a bigger role than that of a squad player, as is the case at Villa Park. Besides Coventry, Fulham also joined the race to secure the move for the 32-year-old midfielder.
However, when both clubs finally entered negotiations, they were unable to reach an agreement with the player. According to Alan Nixon, the transfer specialist from The Sun, their terms were not accepted. There is no clarity yet on the details, but it might be related to the financial package or the personal terms on offer.
Such a development opens the door for Villa to step in. He is still included in the pre-season squad for the Asian tour and might be named in the first-team squad again for the upcoming season. Emery has admired his work and contribution to the team despite his limited minutes on the pitch.
Last season, the midfielder with 33 international caps made 24 appearances but was named in the starting XI only 10 times in the Premier League. He scored three goals and provided one assist in all competitions, mainly operating as an attacking midfielder, central midfielder, or defensive midfielder in a double-pivot role.
Based on the data from FotMob, he registered four headed shots, eight shots on target, and an 87.7% pass completion rate. His long-ball accuracy remained impressive at 73.7%, while his successful dribble rate stood at 65%.
The versatile midfielder, who rejoined Villa for a second spell from Luton in 2024, also remained effective in duels. He won 47.2% of his duels and 46.7% of his aerial duels. He made 74 defensive contributions last season, including 14 tackles, two interceptions, three blocked shots, and 10 clearances.
Barkley appears to have no issue seeing out the remainder of his contract until next summer. Hopefully, he can still deliver top performances whenever he is called upon during the 2026/27 season, whether as a starter or a substitute.
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