Agbonlahor View: I’m sure Aston Villa loanee wants permanent move – Exclusive
Aston Villa loanee Ross Barkley will want to sign for the club permanently in the summer, according to Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the legendary former Villa striker claimed the 27-year-old would be behind Kai Havertz and Mason Mount in the pecking order at Chelsea if he returned to the club despite new manager Thomas Tuchel offering everybody a “clean slate”.
Barkley made the switch to Villa Park in the summer and has established himself as one of the first names on Dean Smith’s teamsheet.
Smith told BirminghamLive after his match-winning display against Southampton at the weekend there have been no discussions surrounding a permanent deal for Barkley.
Frank Lampard was the Chelsea manager who allowed the England international to move to Villa in the summer but he was replaced by Tuchel last month.
Asked by Football Insider what the change in manager at Stamford Bridge means for Barkley, Agbonlahor said: “It’s a clean slate for everybody at Chelsea.
“Players that weren’t playing are going to be given a chance.
“With the likes of Havertz there, Chelsea will want to get the best out of him. He’s in the position that Barkley plays in.
“I’m sure Ross Barkley will look to leave Chelsea in the summer and play somewhere else because Mount and Havertz are probably ahead of him.
“He’s getting to play football at Aston Villa, he won’t want to go back to Chelsea and sit on the bench.
“Villa aren’t above them but they’ve got two games in hand are a point behind them so if you win those games in hand we go above Chelsea.
“That’s what he would’ve wanted to do – be fighting for Europe.”
In other news, Michael Brown has scorned Aston Villa for “rushing” into a new signing.