Ross Barkley claim emerges following talk of Sheffield United interest in Aston Villa midfielder
Sheffield United are unlikely to move for Aston Villa’s Ross Barkley if they miss out on promotion to the Premier League, a report has claimed.
In the winter window, Sheffield United were linked with a bold move for the England-capped playmaker.
The 32-year-old has seen his campaign hindered by injury and the Blades were said to have lodged an ambitious loan enquiry.
Barkley remained at Villa beyond the transfer deadline and Sheffield United looked elsewhere, bolstering their midfield with the additions of Kalvin Phillips and Joe Rothwell.
Fresh Ross Barkley claim
Football Insider have now claimed it is unlikely Sheffield United will be able to make a move for Barkley if they remain in the Championship.
The Blades will lose their parachute payments next term and the report has suggested a deal for Barkley would be unaffordable.
Villa boss Unai Emery, meanwhile, is not thought to be keen on selling Barkley.
Sheffield United on the rise
Sheffield United are climbing the table at an impressive pace, yet there is a lot of damage from earlier in the season to undo.
The Blades made a dreadful start to the season under Ruben Selles, meaning they had a mountain to climb when Chris Wilder returned to the helm.
However, after overseeing a 2-0 win over Queens Park Rangers at the weekend, Wilder made it clear a top-six finish is the goal.
He said: “There’s a lot of games left – a quarter of the season to play – and a lot of points to be had. We’re in a group that’s not in the best of positions, but can we go and string a run together? That’s what we’ll all be after.
“I think we’re the lowest team that maybe would feel we have an opportunity. There’s some games of football we can lose, some we can draw, and some games that with this group that we can go and win.
“We don’t want our season just to fizzle out. We understand there’s an opportunity to win the next game and we have to go and take that.
“We’ve been good. I can’t complain about the form and attitude of the players. On current form – the last 15 or 16 games – we’re right up there.
“If we’re going to do something, we can’t shy away from it – we’re going to have to go and win some games of football. Go and win the next game and see where it takes you.”