VAR staying says new Premier chief
BARRY BACK FOR CRACK AT TOP FLIGHT United eye Grealish as Foxes tie up Maddison
ASTON VILLA’S new teenage starlet Louie Barry aims to break into the first team this season and help his beloved hometown club beat the drop.
Barry, 16, is a lifelong Villa fan who came through West Brom’s academy before a controversial switch to Barcelona last summer.
His return to England to join Villa angered the Baggies, who were already riled by his move to Barca, but the forward is now determined to help the Carabao Cup finalists stay in the top flight.
“I am fighting for the first team,” said Barry. “I want to play well and go up the ranks. My ambition is to be in the first team by the end of the season. I was born in Aston. I have supported Villa all my life.”
Barry, who turns 17 in June, is too old to become the club’s youngest Premier League player as Rushian HepburnMurphy played as a substitute in a 4-0 win at Sunderland in March 2015 aged 16 years 198 days. But he could eclipse namesake Gareth Barry, who was Villa’s previous youngest Premier League player at the age of 17 years and 67 days.
Making Villa’s first team would rub more salt into West Brom wounds given they were upset when he left for Barcelona after rejecting a contract. Albion are waiting for
MANCHESTER UNITED will prioritise a summer swoop for Jack Grealish after James Maddison moved closer to penning a new deal at Leicester. Aston Villa skipper Grealish has been in fine form this season, helping his side to the Carabao Cup final. Grealish, 24, refused to contemplate leaving his boyhood compensation from the Spanish side but are entitled to only £235,000 as he went overseas. Their frustrations have been compounded by Barca making a quick profit, with Villa paying an initial £1million for Barry, although it could rise by another £2m.
Albion are considering legal action as academy chief Mark Harrison, left with Barry, handed in his notice at the Hawthorns shortly after Barry snubbed their overtures and the pair have now club last month as he is focuses on leading them to survival.
But his future is set to be decided this summer with a number of top clubs keen on the attacking midfielder, who is expected to make his England debut in next month’s friendlies.
United were also eyeing Grealish’s close pal Maddison after signing Harry Maguire from Leicester last summer for a world-record £80million fee for a linked up together at Villa. Barry said: “I understand they’re fired up about it but I loved West Brom. I was there from the age of six to 15.
“I enjoyed it at Barcelona but I came to Aston Villa to work with Mark Harrison.”
Barry is in Marbella to take part in three England Under-17 warm-up friendlies before the Euro qualifiers in March. He won the golden boot at the Val-de-Marne tournament, where England U16s were victorious.
“I have scored 21 goals in 20 appearances for the U15s, 16s and 17s,” added Barry. “I want to play in the U17s Euros in Estonia in May.”
Villa chief executive Christian Purslow has hailed the arrival of Harrison and Barry as vital to the club’s transformation under wealthy owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens. defender. But the Foxes are aiming to finalise a new deal for Maddison during the winter break.
The midfielder, 23, signed from Norwich for an initial £21m in June 2018, can expect a big rise on his £55,000-a-week deal. It will reflect his progress after making his England debut against Montenegro in November.
The Foxes are keen to keep all their stars for a crack at the Champions League next term and are also in talks with defender Caglar Soyuncu, 23.
NEW Premier League chief executive Richard Masters says VAR is here to stay, insisting their own poll shows it is what the fans want.
A YouGov poll found that two-thirds of fans believe video referees make the game less enjoyable.
But
Masters will present figures to the clubs tomorrow that indicate 80 per cent of fans feel the system just needs tweaking.
A more in-depth discussion about the form ofVAR to be used next season will then be held in April. “VAR is here to stay and certainly it’s going to be with us next season,” said Masters. “We will look at the development next season to iron out some of the issues. “We have improved the in-stadium comms with the slightly different replay screen experience and the decision-making is now better.
“If we can get that speeded up as well, and it will happen in time... everybody is on a learning curve.
“Our own poll says the majority of fans want VAR.”
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STUART McCALL has returned to League Two Bradford for a third spell in charge following Gary Bowyer’s departure.
The 55-year-old ex-Scotland international, left, will remain in charge until at least the end of next season.“I feel for Gary but I was desperate to return. The club are huge in this division,” he said.
BRIGHTON forward Jurgen Locadia has agreed a loan deal with MLS side FC Cincinnati. The Dutchman, 26, has spent most of the season so far with Hoffenheim, scoring four goals in 14 games in Germany.