Louie Barry to join Championship rivals as Leeds United eye Aston Villa gem

Louie Barry would be better off joining Sunderland over Leeds United during the January transfer window, Carlton Palmer has said.

Daniel Farke's side are one of the many teams interested in acquiring the 21-year-old's signature this month after being recalled from his Stockport County loan by Aston Villa [Dominic Shaw].

It is understood the Premier League club are planning to send him to a Championship club for the remainder of the campaign, but Elland Road might not be his destination.

Speaking to Football League World [3 January], Palmer said: "I would think for Barry, he wants to go somewhere where he's going to play. In the Championship, you're looking at Leeds, Sunderland and Boro and they're all at the top end of the league.

"Leeds are top of the tree, Sunderland you know what they do, they sign good young players and move them on for big money.

"If I were Louie Barry, I would be looking at where I can get first-team football, where I fancy my chances to play regularly at a club that will give young players a chance, and that's Sunderland at this moment in time."

Louie Barry right to avoid Leeds United transfer in January?

Obviously, many at Elland Road will hugely disagree with this opinion, wanting an exciting, young forward to join the squad, but Palmer does have a point.

Barry is clearly a talented player, boasting 15 goals and two assists in 23 matches and lighting up League One with Stockport, but it is still a massive leap up to the Championship.

Farke still has Joel Piroe, Mateo Joseph and Patrick Bamford at his disposal, and also Joe Gelhardt before he manages to seal a move away from Elland Road, with wide players capable of playing through the middle too.

The goals have really started to flow at Elland Road, with Piroe on nine, Dan James on five, Brenden Aaronson on seven and Wilfried Gnonto on four, so there is clearly no issue there.

But with so many teams after Barry's signature, the Whites would be stupid not to throw their hat in the ring this month, whether Palmer thinks a move to the Stadium of Light would suit him better or not.

In other Leeds United news, the Whites want to sign a Championship team's star name, with a bid being readied.

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