'One plan': QPR, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United sent enticing transfer update by Premier League club

QPR, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United and several Championship clubs have been put on red alert after Aston Villa manager Unai Emery confirmed that the club planned to send Louie Barry out on loan for the second half the season.

The 21-year-old spent the first half of the season on loan at Stockport County and plundered 15 League One goals for the club. He was then recalled by Aston Villa with reports suggesting that the club were keen for the winger to carry on his progressions with a Championship side.

That news piqued the interest of several second tier outfits. TeamTALK named QPR as one of the interested parties, alongside the Blades, Boro, Coventry City and Stoke City.

Aston Villa confirm Louie Barry transfer stance

Despite all the interest, any news on a new destination has been slow progress with some murmurs that perhaps Emery had seen enough in the talent to involve him in first team plans for the rest of the season. However, on Friday, the Villains' boss doubled down on plans to loan the player out again.

He said: “We are very happy with Barry. We have one plan with him and that is to extend his contract because we believe in him and then he must continue his process as a player.

“It is to go on loan and continue getting minutes, getting confidence and getting his success playing at another club. How we worked with him last year and with him now is the right way for him. How we are working with him now and last year is the right way for him."

That's very much a boost for sides such as QPR, who had not been looking at a permanent move for the player this month in any case. It's a blow for Celtic, who had bid £10 million for Barry in an attempt to sign him permanently. French outfit RC Lens were said to have similar intentions with a £6 million bid sent to the Midlands.

Celtic had included a buy-back clause in their two transfer offers to date, in an attempt to sweeten the deal for Aston Villa, but it is clear the Premier League outfit does not intend on letting the talent leave permanently this month.

Unai Emery praise for QPR target

Emery is known to be a big fan of the hotshot, even before his form at Stockport County. Barry signed a new contract with the club last summer before his last spell and is in the club's future plans.

Speaking about the player, Unai Emery said recently: "He is really performing very well, last year, this year. He did pre-season [with Villa] and we want to introduce him again with us here and to take again another decision with him. But he has potential.

"We are happy with him. If he can help us, he will do it. But in case, his progression is better to go on loan and to play more and more and get minutes and confidence, playing at a higher level than he played, of course, is the plan with him. We are going to decide again with him, but his potential is exploiting and really being fantastic for him, for the club, as our player. And then we are going to decide."