Alan Hutton’s insight into Louie Barry possibly signing for Celtic after working with him at Aston Villa

Add as preferred source on Google

Celtic are looking to bolster their forward line before the January transfer window slams shut.

On January 29, Celtic take on Aston Villa in the Champions League where one name could prove to be a talking point – and it’s not boyhood Celtic fan John McGinn.

It revolves around Aston Villa youngster Louie Barry and his future after he was recalled from his loan spell at Stockport County.

Who will the 21-year-old, who can play as a striker, but has succeeded off the left of late, be playing his football for by the end of the month?

Celtic are looking to sign Barry, alongside a handful of clubs, with the Daily Mail claiming that the Glasgow giants have submitted a bid to sign the versatile attacker.

One man who watched Barry come through as a teenager in the Midlands offered an insight into the player.

Louie Barry compared to Patrick Roberts as Celtic push to sign Aston Villa star

Alan Hutton spent nearly a decade in Aston Villa colours and he was on the club’s books as Barry was coming through the English side’s academy.

He compared the highly-rated talent to Bhoys hero Patrick Roberts and how he is a ‘very gifted’ player, as he told Premier Sports (18/01/25 at 7:50 pm).

The former Scotland right-back added that Villa ‘want to have another look’ at their player, but he thinks he could provide Brendan Rodgers with a ‘different option’ on the flanks.

“He was a young boy,” responded Hutton at being at Villa when Barry was coming through. “I think he is a lot like Patrick Roberts. That type of mould. I am not saying he is the exact same.

“But technically very gifted. He will get on the ball and make things happen. He is still a young boy. He went through a lot in his young career already. He has been out on loan and different things. I think Aston Villa will want to have another look at him under Unai Emery to see if they want to keep him or not.

“But I think it’s a player who has massive potential, so if he comes up here and flourishes in this environment, then it will stand him in good stead. I think he gives you something different. You look at the wingers they have, at this moment in time, the likes of Maeda. Pace. Kuhn coming in from the right and going onto his left. I think he gives you a bit of something else. He likes to find pockets of space. He likes to get shots off and can play number 10. I think it will give Brendan different options than he has.”

Barry’s numbers this season

Celtic snapped up Matt O’Riley from League One and he transformed into an outstanding player for the club, including winning the Treble.

So, there is nothing wrong with the champions of Scotland bringing in a player who has done wonders in English football’s third tier.

Stockport County, who are pushing for promotion this season, and their supporters were gutted to see the player go and you can see why, with WhoScored rating his performances at 7.42.