---
title: "Aston Villa: Ross Barkley rumours emerge"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-ross-barkley-rumours-emerge/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Aston Villa"
published: "2021-11-11T13:10:54Z"
modified: "2021-11-11T13:10:54Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Ross Barkley rumours emerge

**Aston Villa have been linked with bringing Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley back to the Midlands, [football.london](https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/transfer-news/rangers-steven-gerrard-aston-villa-22122257) report.**

### The Lowdown: Barkley is a man in demand…

The player spent last season on loan at Villa Park and made [24](https://www.transfermarkt.com/ross-barkley/leistungsdaten/spieler/131978/plus/0?saison=2020) appearances for the club, scoring [three](https://www.transfermarkt.com/ross-barkley/leistungsdaten/spieler/131978/plus/0?saison=2020) times and registering [one](https://www.transfermarkt.com/ross-barkley/leistungsdaten/spieler/131978/plus/0?saison=2020) assist.

He is now back at Stamford Bridge, with Thomas Tuchel recently labelling him as [‘strong’](https://www.si.com/soccer/chelsea/news/tuchel-praises-barkley-after-performance-against-aston-villa). However, he has only started [two](https://www.transfermarkt.com/ross-barkley/leistungsdaten/spieler/131978/plus/0?saison=2021) games in all competitions for the Blues this term, and a move away in the New Year could well be on the cards.

Everton, Leeds and Newcastle have all been [linked](https://www.teamtalk.com/chelsea/exclusive-leeds-newcastle-alert-ross-barkley-january-decision) with the 27-year-old, and it seems as if Villa could also be keen now that Steven Gerrard has [officially](https://twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1458736283916902405?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet) taken over from Dean Smith.

\[freshpress-poll id=”379783″\]

### The Latest: Villa return?

[football.london](https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/transfer-news/rangers-steven-gerrard-aston-villa-22122257) shared a story on Wednesday, looking into Villa’s January plans if Gerrard seals a move to Villa Park.

They brought up the 41-year-old’s previous admiration for Barkley before he became a manager, hinting that a winter window move could be on the cards.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”375426″\]

### The Verdict: Avoid…

Barkley fell away during the second half of the 2020/21 campaign, starting just [four](https://www.transfermarkt.com/ross-barkley/leistungsdaten/spieler/131978/plus/0?saison=2020) of Villa’s final [15](https://www.transfermarkt.com/ross-barkley/leistungsdaten/spieler/131978/plus/0?saison=2020) Premier League fixtures. He is also on a [£100,000-per-week](https://salarysport.com/football/player/ross-barkley/) salary with the Blues and has a [history of injuries](https://www.transfermarkt.com/ross-barkley/verletzungen/spieler/131978), so it could be a risky first addition to kickstart Gerrard’s tenure as Villa manager.

A more versatile midfielder who can play in Gerrard’s preferred [attacking 4-3-3](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/steven-gerrard/profil/trainer/51276) system could be a smarter decision, with Villa having just [four](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/kadernachposition/verein/405) senior options in the middle of the park at this moment in time, along with youngsters Jacob Ramsey and Carney Chukwuemeka.

***In other news: [Many Villa fans go wild over one man Gerrard could bring to Villa Park](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/villa-gerrard-tom-culshaw-set-piece-specialist/)***