£6m Birmingham City transfer news offers Stockport County glimmer of Aston Villa hope: View | OneFootball

Such a high-value bid would surely put the Hatters in a better position to land one of their key targets

Birmingham City may have just handed Stockport County fresh hope in their pursuit of Aston Villa forward Louie Barry.

The young Villan spent last season on loan at Edgeley Park and made a strong impression, leaving the club wanting to explore a permanent deal for the 21-year-old.

It looked like that ambition had taken a knock when Football Insider revealed that the Blues were interested in taking Barry from their Midlands rivals, with the Blues strong favourites to lift the League One title.

However, a later report, also from Football Insider, revealed that the club were prepared to table a £6million bid for Jay Stansfield, who had a temporary spell with the side last term from parent club Fulham.

To the annoyance of some County fans, amid a flurry of strong transfer business this summer, the one name still reverberating around Edgeley Park is that of Louie Barry.

In a loan spell substantially impacted by injury, Barry recorded nine goals and four assists in just 20 League Two games and was instrumental in the club's early winning streak last term.

County owner Mark Stott, alongside confirming the switch in approach to target young, high-potential players that could be sold on for a profit, revealed that he was keen to try and bring the Villa youngster to Edgeley Park permanently.

As yet, there is no news on any deal progressing, with Barry currently completing pre-season with Villa.

Birmingham have thrown a spanner in the works

The deal for Barry already looked difficult, with Villa unlikely to let a young player showing such promise go for cheap, and feelings that he may be ready for a chance in the Championship, but Birmingham's reported interest made it that one step harder.

Stott claimed that Barry seemed keen on a potential return to Edgeley Park, but a move to the third-tier favourites, likely competing at the top of a division as he was on loan with County last year, would be difficult to turn down, especially as it is a club local to where he grew up.

The Football Insider report suggested that the Blues' move for Barry was to be a loan offer, something that might suit Villa if they can set their rivalry aside, provided they can offer consistent minutes to the forward.

That's where County may regain the upper hand if Birmingham manage to seal their Stansfield deal.

Birmingham unlikely to sign both

Having seen what he can do for them at the level above, if the Blues believe a move for Stansfield is achievable, then that will undoubtedly be the priority.

In 43 Championship appearances in his loan spell last season, the 21-year-old netted 12 goals and two assists, a strong return that would surely only be improved upon in the third tier.

The two youngsters are different players, but they can both operate out wide and in central attacking areas. Signing Stansfield would reduce the club's need for Barry, which in turn would decrease the attractiveness of St Andrew's as a loan destination in the eyes of those at Villa.

Though pushing for a permanent purchase, County would surely consider another loan deal for Barry if that's all that was on the table, with a full sale likely including sufficient buy-back and sell-on clauses to make it attractive to Villa.

With Birmingham potentially out of the way in terms of Barry, the chances of County being given the space to close any deal for the forward increase. It would be a strong signal of intent for the Hatters, so news of Birmingham's pursuit of a hefty Stansfield agreement will be music to the ears of those at Edgeley Park.