This post is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk’ series, which features personal comments from FLW Fan Pundits on breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings, and more.
Stoke City have been connected with Sheffield United attacker Louie Barry ahead of the January transfer window. The 22-year-old is on loan from parent club Aston Villa.
As Nick Mashiter reported in late November, Stoke were winning the fight to sign Barry on loan before the January transfer window.
Barry spent much of his childhood career in West Brom’s academy before moving to Barcelona’s La Masia system in 2019. He stayed in Catalonia for a year before returning to the UK with Aston Villa.
The forward has since spent a significant amount of time on loan in the EFL, with Ipswich Town, Swindon Town, MK Dons, Salford City, Stockport County on two separate occasions, Hull City, and now Sheffield United.
Since joining the Blades in the summer, persuaded by former head coach Ruben Selles to bring him to Hull in January 2025, he has struggled to feature and made little to no impression at Bramall Lane, and may be recalled in January.
Barry has only made nine Championship appearances this season and has not been included in a matchday squad for the last eight games, making an early recall almost probable, with Stoke potentially in great position to provide him with a Championship lifeline in January.
Stoke City is told to focus on other aspects that are of ‘greater priority’ instead of a move for Louie Barry.
Pete, a Stoke fan analyst for Football League World, has expressed his thoughts on Barry’s potential move to the Potters and if it would be a good fit for all sides.
Pete said: “I’m not sure what to think about Louie Barry from Aston Villa. He didn’t do much at Hull or Sheffield United.
“The only thing on his CV that is particularly impressive is his time at Stockport in League One.
“We’ve got Bae Jun-Ho, Lewis Baker, Jamie Donley’s had a difficult time getting any game time at all, and I suspect that sending Donley back and bringing in Louie Barry to replace Donley would simply mean that Louie Barry would sit on the bench and be as unhappy as Jamie Donley has been.
“So, I believe there are other areas where we need to improve that would be a higher priority.
“So sure, I’d be really underwhelmed if Louie Barry came here.
“Who knows?” Perhaps he’ll come to us or another Championship club and perform exceptionally well.
“But yeah, I’d not be massively keen on that one, to be honest.”
Stoke City has been connected with attacking reinforcements this January, notably Louie Barry.
In addition to Barry, Stoke had been linked with another Sheffield United attacker, Tom Cannon, who spent the first part of the 2024/25 season on loan with the Potters from Leicester City before signing for the club for £10 million in January.
Head coach Mark Robins appears to be dissatisfied with his current frontline and may be seeking for another alternative in the final third.
Sorba Thomas, Divin Mubama, Million Manhoef, and Bae Jun-Ho have been the club’s favored front four this season, with Thomas particularly impressive on the left wing.
Lewis Baker, Lamine Cisse, Sam Gallagher, Robert Bozenik, and Jamie Donley are all capable of performing at the highest levels of the pitch, but Robins appears dissatisfied with his current group of attacking players.
Despite a recent slump in form, Stoke and Robins will still want for a top-six finish this season, but will be watching their surroundings with concern as teams around them continue to pick up points while they stay in the relegation zone.
Barry’s acquisition may help the team kick on and fight for a play-off berth at the conclusion of the season, having demonstrated his abilities with Stockport in League One less than a year ago.
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