Sir Jim Ratcliffe targets Aston Villa flop for shock Man Utd transfer

Aston Villa borrowed Ross Barkley on loan in 2020-21 under Dean Smith and the midfielder has since revitalised his career at Luton

Manchester United have been linked with a surprise move for former Aston Villa loanee Ross Barkley after an excellent individual season at newly promoted Luton Town. The midfielder, who has been the subject of calls in some quarters for Gareth Southgate to consider handing Barkley a recall ahead of Euro 2024 this summer, has helped the Hatters to give themselves a fighting chance of survival this season.

Barkley, 30, has excelled upon his return to England under former Villa defender Rob Edwards and has featured in 20 Premier League games this term, contributing to six goals in the process. The Sun report that Barkley, whose contract at Kenilworth Road is described as ‘complex’, could leave if Luton are relegated and that United – who are now part owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe – could complete a cheap deal as they seek a replacement for Casemiro.

Barkley, who came through the ranks at Everton before he joined Chelsea in 2018, joined Villa on loan in 2020 under Dean Smith as Villa built on their survival the campaign before by recruiting the likes of Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Martinez and Matty Cash. Barkley began life at Villa Park, behind closed doors, in wonderful fashion when scoring in the 7-2 win over Liverpool and then netting a last minute winner at Leicester City.

Barkley then bagged another winner at Southampton, but his campaign rather fizzled out and chances of him joining Villa on a permanent basis faded. His journey in football then took him to Nice in Ligue 1, a club owned by INEOS – the company which is in turn owned by Ratcliffe, who has recently bought 27.7% of United.