NO PERMANENT DEAL FOR CHELSEA LOANEE

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has hinted that the club won’t be signing Chelsea loanee Ross Barkley on a permanent deal when his loan spell expires in the summer. England international Barkley is on loan at Villa from Chelsea. He joined former European champions Villa at the start of the season.

Villa manager Smith was quizzed on the possibility of Barkley staying on at the club beyond the end of his loan spell at the club. In his response to the question, Smith said that Barkley has two years left on his Chelsea contract and that there has been no talks over his signing at Aston Villa. Smith was speaking in a recent interview as monitored by Goal.

Ex-Everton midfielder Barkley has struggled for form in recent months at Villa and he has lost his place in the team as a result. He began his Villa career excellently with two goals in the first two games only for his influence on the team to diminish on his return from injury.

Barkley made his debut for Villa in the historic 7-2 thrashing of Liverpool at home earlier this season.He scored one of the goals as Aston Villa hit the champions for seven at Villa Park in a week four match in the Premier League this term. Ollie Watkins (3), club skipper Jack Grealish (2) and John McGinn were the other goalscorers for the hosts.

Villa midfielder Barkley made it two goals in two games when he scored the winning goal in a 1-0 away win over Leicester City. He then suffered an injury in the home game against Brighton and Hove Albion. Since returning from that injury, Barkley has not been able to return to form for the midlands club.

In the absence of a permanent deal at Villa, Barkley is expected to return to parent club Chelsea and it remains to be seen if he would have a future at Stamford Bridge under new manager Thomas Tuchel.