Aston Villa have been linked with bringing Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley back to the Midlands, football.london report.

The Lowdown: Barkley is a man in demand…

The player spent last season on loan at Villa Park and made 24 appearances for the club, scoring three times and registering one assist.

He is now back at Stamford Bridge, with Thomas Tuchel recently labelling him as ‘strong’. However, he has only started two 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 with the 27-year-old, and it seems as if Villa could also be keen now that Steven Gerrard has officially taken over from Dean Smith.

The Latest: Villa return?

football.london 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.

The Verdict: Avoid…

Barkley fell away during the second half of the 2020/21 campaign, starting just four of Villa’s final 15 Premier League fixtures. He is also on a £100,000-per-week salary with the Blues and has a history of injuries, 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 system could be a smarter decision, with Villa having just four 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