Celtic have been consistently linked with a move for Aston Villa’s Louie Barry, with the English winger impressing while on loan at Stockport County during the first half of the season in League One.
Barry netted 15 goals in 23 outings for Stockport over the last six months, which led to Unai Emery recalling him at the beginning of January.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
The Spanish manager was said to want to assess how the Englishman trains with the Villa first team.
However, since then, Celtic have reportedly had a £10 million bid rejected for Barry, with the Villans holding firm in their approach to keep him. But that now looks set to change.
The Daily Mail report that Barry is set to join Hull City on loan until the end of the season, with a medical said to be booked for today.
A Celtic move for Barry now appears dead in the water until the summer at least, with Emery being a huge admirer of Hull head coach and fellow countryman Ruben Selles.
The Tigers are hoping to convince Barry to stay beyond this season if he enjoys his time in the Championship, with Villa boss Emery understanding the need for the English winger to play regularly over the second half of the campaign.
Whether Celtic will go back in for Barry in the summer remains to be seen. With Jota rejoining the club yesterday and the Hoops still in the market for a striker before the window closes, it may mean that come the summer, Brendan Rodgers is happier with the squad at his disposal and may decide against pursuing the highly rated Villa winger.
