Celtic’s hopes of landing Aston Villa striker Louie Barry this January appear to be over, with Villa boss Unai Emery reportedly rejecting bids from the Scottish champions and French side Lens.
Barry, 21, has returned to Villa Park following a stunning loan spell at Stockport County, where he scored 16 goals in 24 appearances in League Two. His performances have attracted significant interest, with Celtic seemonly offering £5m upfront and a further £5m in add-ons for the highly-rated forward.
MailSport are reporting the figures, but they do seem quite high. £5 million for a player who played in League 1 for the first half of the season is already quite high, and to double that fee with add-ons does seem quite excessive. But there is Premier League and English ‘tax’ to add on.
Despite the reported sizeable offers on the table, Emery has decided against selling Barry this window. The Villa boss views the young forward as a valuable asset for the future and is ready to sanction a new contract to extend his stay at the club. Barry’s current deal runs until 2027, but Emery is reportedly keen to tie him down for even longer as Villa look to ward off suitors.
Celtic had hoped to bolster their attacking options with Barry as a potential long-term investment. Their offer included a buy-back clause for Villa, a sign of their willingness to work within the Premier League club’s long-term plans for the player. However, Villa are adamant that Barry will not leave permanently in this window.
Emery is now considering whether to integrate Barry into Villa’s senior squad for the remainder of the season or send him out on loan to continue his development.
