Carlton Palmer tips Louie Barry to make Stockport County decision amid Leicester & Tottenham interest | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer has been speaking with FLW over the possibility of Aston Villa recalling starlet Louie Barry from Stockport County in January.

Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City are both understood to be keen on Aston Villa forward and Stockport County loanee Louie Barry, but pundit Carlton Palmer believes that the prolific attacker will surely want to remain at Edgeley Park until the end of the season.

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, the on-loan Villa prospect could be tempted by a top-flight move, with Spurs and Leicester being the leading contenders for his signature.

Barry has been in superb form in-front of goal for Stockport, having already surpassed the double-digit mark this season, and that hasn't gone unnoticed by clubs higher up the English football pyramid.

With the highly-rated starlet in sparkling form in the third tier, and the January transfer window fast approaching, questions are naturally being asked as to whether Unai Emery will want to recall him to Villa Park in the new year.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, former England international Palmer believes that despite the Premier League interest being shown in him, Barry will surely want to stay at Stockport given how well he's playing, and due to the fact there's a chance to be part of another promotion-winning team.

Palmer said: "There's been a lot of speculation for Louie Barry in the time he's been at Stockport. He's been outstanding for them, he picked up an injury that kept him out for a while, but he's looked outstanding.

"He's a top quality player, who knows where the back of the net is. Apparently, Tottenham and Leicester City want Barry, Aston Villa have recalled players in the past, and they could do this to sell him.

"Obviously, he's a huge, huge talent, and he scores goals. Of course it's a concern for Stockport County, but, the player has a say in that as well. The player was 100 per cent convinced he wanted to go back to Stockport County, he's enjoyed himself there under Dave Challinor.

"They've had two promotions, they're going for a third one, and he's been outstanding there. So, he also has an input in what would go on.

"So, I don't believe that Barry would, obviously if you get the chance to go to Tottenham or Leicester City...Leicester are going to have it all on to stay in the Premier League, but that is a step-up from Stockport.

"But the way Dave Challinor is going, he could get them promoted again. That atmosphere and that feel-good factor is what it's all about playing football, because that's when you play your best football.

"So, we'll have to see. Obviously, the more Barry keeps scoring goals, the more he keeps playing the way that he's playing, of course there's going to be interest in his services."

Louie Barry's Stockport County experience is surely better than a permanent transfer from Aston Villa

During his time contracted as an Aston Villa player, Barry has been sent out on a number of loans across the EFL to varying degrees of success, but nowhere has seen him excell like he has from his time with Stockport.

Nine goals and four assists in 22 appearances with the Hatters last season proved vital in the club's promotion to League One, and having already surpassed that goal tally this season, his progression as a footballer is clearly accellerating rapidly at Edgeley Park.

Villa will no doubt have seen the likes of Jay Stansfield departing Fulham for £15m+ after he was sent out on loan with Exeter City and Birmingham City respectively over the last couple of seasons, but he was coming off a season having scored 12 goals in a relegated Blues side in the second tier.

Barry hasn't played at a higher level than League One in English football as of yet, and so surely if Villa's motivation for a recall was to sell him on for a similar fee to Stanfield, they would need to see him prove himself in the Championship.

He will still only be 22 by the time next season begins, and so there's no concern in him losing value through ageing, and so keeping him at Stockport until the end of the season where he's scoring goals, playing very well and inflating his transfer value at the same time, seems the logical decision.

It's not as though Emery is short of striking options at Villa Park that would make sense for a recall in that regard, as Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran would see him be the third-choice centre-forward at best.

Surely then he would be better served remaining in League One as opposed to playing that role with Aston Villa for the second half of the season?