According to an exclusive interview by Football Insider, former Premier League ace Kevin Phillips has urged Aston Villa to try and sign Ross Barkley on a permanent basis from Chelsea in the summer. The pundit has claimed that acquiring the Englishman would be a ‘massive’ coup for the Villans, and even went to the extent of naming him as one of the most creative players in the Premier League. The former Villa man then said that the reason behind Barkley’s stellar start to the season has been the obvious reduction of pressure, with the attacker finally producing the goods at the level that was once expected from him.
Although the report has seen Phillips urging Aston Villa to sign Ross Barkley from Chelsea, whether or not Frank Lampard’s side are willing to let him depart remains to be seen. Speaking on the matter, the former Villa ace said, “I would have taken Ross Barkley all day long. He just needed to play football and go somewhere where there is less pressure than Chelsea. Yes, he is now a big fish at Villa but he is a fantastic player. To have him and Grealish both on fire in your team, two of the most creative players in the Premier League, is massive. Ross Barkley could potentially turn out to be the signing of the season. If Villa can persuade him to join them come the end of the season, it would be a massive step in the right direction.”
What Is Aston Villa’s Current Situation In The Premier League?
The Villans have started the season in blistering fashion, and don’t look like the same team that was forced to deal with a relegation scrap at the end of the last campaign. Currently sat in 6th place with 15 points on the board, Dean Smith’s side are actually positioned above the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal on the league table. Although they have lost on a couple of occasions, the victories against Liverpool and Arsenal have shown that this Villa team is capable of pulling off the odd surprise, with Ross Barkley undoubtedly playing an important part in the process.
Dean Smith will take even more motivation from the fact that they’ve actually played one game less than the other teams in the top six of the table. What this means is that if they win their game in hand, they would instantly go to the top of the table. Such is the quality that they have displayed since the start of the campaign. The manager and players will also be enjoying the rate at which they’ve been scoring goals. With 18 goals in the bag already, from just seven fixtures, the only clubs in the entire division to have scored more than them are Tottenham and Chelsea.
What Makes Ross Barkley Such An Important Player To Villa?
The midfielder has been the talk of the town for a while now, and his quality in the final third has been crucial to all of the good football that Villa have produced this season. His performance against Liverpool a few weeks ago was nothing short of sublime, while he seemed to even top that in the most recent victory against Arsenal. Capable of producing the creativity that Villa so dearly lacked last season, Barkley’s importance to Dean Smith’s midfield cannot be underplayed. His ability to drive forward with the ball, while also having a keen eye for a pass, is sure to come good at various points over the course of what promises to be an exciting season.
Phillips Urging Aston Villa To Sign Ross Barkley From Chelsea: Should Dean Smith Go For It?
Now a regular starter in this high-flying Villa side, there’s no question that Villa fans all over the world will be eager to see Barkley stay on at the club past the end of the current season. Although Chelsea are likely to be interested in a permanent sale as well, the transfer fee in question could come as a stumbling block. With the Englishman having another three years left on his contract with Chelsea, and with no buy-on clause included in the contract either, convincing the Blues to sell could become a challenge. Despite this, if they’re somehow able to get this deal over the line, it would have to be considered quite the purchase.
