Stoke City is actively pursuing a loan deal for Louie Barry next month, as Aston Villa plans to recall him from Sheffield United.
The young midfielder hasn’t featured for the Blades since October, and Villa intends to bring him back before sending him out on loan again in January.
With promotion aspirations, Stoke, currently sitting second in the Championship, is among several clubs interested in Barry, including Derby, Hull, and Oxford.
Barry enjoyed a productive loan spell at Hull last season after netting 16 goals during his time in League One with Stockport, although his stint at Hull was cut short due to a knee injury, limiting him to just four appearances.
The 22-year-old is dealing with a cyst in his right knee and has returned to Bodymoor Heath for treatment. He is anticipated to return to Bramall Lane next month, potentially in time for the Blades’ final fixtures of the year, but his participation remains doubtful.
Barry started the season strong under manager Ruben Selles, but after the team lost its first five matches, Selles was dismissed and Chris Wilder returned to manage the team.
During his time at Sheffield United, Barry has made nine appearances but has only started once under Wilder, achieving a 1-0 victory against Watford in October. His ongoing knee problems kept him out of the squad for Sunday’s derby win against Sheffield Wednesday.