Villa turn down offer for former player.
Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts
Aston Villa have rejected the opportunity to take their former player Gareth Barry on loan from Manchester City this season, according to the Metro.
The 32-year-old does not appear to be part of new City manager Manuel Pellegrini’s plans at the Etihad Stadium this season, and the Chilean has looked to offload the veteran midfielder.
However, it seems that a return to Villa Park is not on the cards, with manager Paul Lambert keen to build a youthful new team to improve their fortunes in the Premier League this season.
Barry first left the club for City in 2009, in a deal worth £12million. He was initially a key player under Mark Hughes and Roberto Mancini, and formed part of the club’s title-winning side in 2012.
He was not at his best last season though, and his place is now under further threat following the arrival of Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk. He has also found himself linked with moves to both Arsenal and Stoke City at points this summer.
The England international also made himself somewhat unpopular with the fans at Villa Park towards the end of his time there, as he tried to engineer a move to Liverpool in 2008, though the deal eventually fell through.