Louie Barry to Derby County latest as Aston Villa issue transfer update

Derby County hopes of landing in-demand Louie Barry on loan as they seek more firepower are up in the air after the latest comments on a deal out of Aston Villa.

The 21-year-old Villa asset helped fire Stockport County into League One last season, and has carried on the good work on loan this term, banging home 16 goals and three assists in 24 games. However, he has been recalled by Villa, who are apparently keen to test him at a higher level.

The Rams were tipped as a likely destination for the former Barcelona prospect at the weekend, the guarantee of regular football said to be key in Paul Warne and Co heading off interest from a host of rival Championship clubs - Leeds, Sunderland and Middlesbrough amongst them - to get their man.

But now Villa boss Unai Emery had thrown any loan move into doubt with his latest pronouncement on Barry’s future.

“He trained with us and we are going to make a plan with him, an overall plan," Emery explained in his latest press conference. “I think he is a very good player who is progressing well. He has been on loan doing fantastic. Now we can have a new plan with him.

“He improved because he was scoring a lot of goals on loan. With us he only trained today and yesterday. Of course we are going to try and get a good plan for the club with him.”

And asked if a decision has been made whether he will be staying with Villa or heading back out on loan, Emery responded with a curt: “No.”

Derby boss Warne has been clear on his desire to bring in more goals for the second half of the season, but has also been coy on the timings of any deals.

As the Rams prepare for Saturday’s third round FA Cup tie at League One Leyton Orient (6pm), he played down the prospect of any imminent incomings. He said: "I probably go on the side of not wanting to get people's hopes up. If I say, ‘Oh yeah, we're definitely gonna have a new face in’ and then we don't, I look like a liar.

"It's probably less likely than more likely, and if they do come in then I'm not a genius, the club is. They are doing everything they can.”

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