Louie Barry has been courted by Sunderland and many others in the Championship, with teams outside of England even thought to be taking a look. But the Black Cats may have other priorities before a move for Barry.
Sunderland are looking to bring in their second signing of the January transfer window after the impressive loan capture of Enzo Le Fee from Roma. And the Black Cats could follow it up with the equally impressive capture of Tom Cannon.
The Leicester City striker has been recalled from his loan spell at Stoke City. Sunderland and Sheffield United are fighting to sign Cannon in this January transfer window, with both teams even willing to fork out £13million on the forward.
With a deal for Cannon seemingly next on Sunderland’s wishlist, it could leave them with a couple more weeks of the window to bolster other positions and target other names. One such name could be Louie Barry who’s been strongly linked with Sunderland during the winter window so far.
Aston Villa want new contract for Sunderland target Louie Barry
Barry, 21, has been back at Villa Park for a couple of weeks now. Unai Emery wanted to take a look at the winger following his fine loan spell at Stockport County and it seems like the Spaniard may have made his mind up.
Journalist Pete O’Rourke says that Villa want to secure a new contract for Barry before sending him out on loan, suggesting that Emery has been impressed with the winger and that Villa no longer want to sell him in January, and instead just loan him out.
Sunderland are one of several teams linked with Barry, with interest from Sheffield United and Leeds United to name a couple. O’Rourke even claims that Celtic are now in the race for his signature.
It’s currently unclear when Barry under contract until, though he did sign an extension before joining Stockport on loan.
- READ MORE: Tom Cannon to Sunderland: A new team in the race, Everton’s secret agent, and front-runners revealed
When are Tommy Watson and Romaine Mundle back to fitness?
Links to Barry may well have been a precaution for Sunderland who lost both Tommy Watson and Romaine Mundle to injury before the January transfer window.
And when both are back in the team, there might not be a need for Barry, despite him being a very good player and a potentially great fit for the Black Cats too.
Speaking before the Stoke City game earlier in January, Regis Le Bris gave an injury update on Watson and Mundle and said that both players could return at the very end of January, if not then definitely in February.
That could coincide with deadline day (February 3rd), and if either player suffers a setback along the way, it could prompt a real Sunderland push for Barry, if one isn’t already in the making.