"Fantastic coup" - Pundit reacts as Stockport County push to sign Aston Villa star Louie Barry | OneFootball

Stockport County owner Mark Stott recently revealed that the club are trying to negotiate a permanent deal for young Aston Villa forward Louie Barry, and pundit Carlton Palmer believes it would be a real coup if they manage to pull it off.

Barry was instrumental for the Hatters prior to his injury at the end of October last year, and the goals he scored in that period were a big factor in County eventually being crowned League Two champions.

A permanent move for the forward looked like a pipe dream as the season drew to a close, but Stott has made his ambitions clear.

Discussing the possibility of the switch, Palmer believes Barry has the qualities that County may need in League One.

Palmer sees the positives in bringing Barry to Edgeley Park

The former County player and manager is well-known at Edgeley Park and he believes that Barry would be well-suited to taking the next step in his career with the Hatters.

Speaking exclusively with Football League World, Palmer said: “Stockport County are said to be in talks with bringing young 20-year-old striker from Aston Villa, Louie Barry, to Stockport on a permanent basis.

“Stockport’s owner, Mark Stott, has claimed that the club are really, really negotiating hard to bring Barry to the football club. They’ve spoken to Barry, and his father, and Barry’s keen to make the move to Stockport County."

Palmer recognises the impact Barry has had at Edgeley Park and believes it will be a key factor if the move goes through.

“He was in scintillating form until he picked up his injury," the former boss said. "He loves it at Stockport, the fans love him, the manager loves him, he’s a clear talent."

But Palmer believes that for that reason, the Hatters won't be the only club keeping tabs on him over this summer.

He continued: “Of course, other clubs will be looking at him, and clubs that are operating at a higher level, but in League One next season, a good pre-season under Challinor, you’d think that he’d be able to hit the heights that he was hitting before with his pace and his ability to dribble and run past people.

“So, you know, it’s expected that other clubs will be in for him, but he’s enjoyed it.

“Stockport have two promotions under Dave Challinor, and they’ll be looking to kick on again next season, but it’s going to be difficult now they’re stepping up, and it’ll be interesting to see how Stockport go on.

“But this would be a fantastic coup for the club, and shows the ambition of Stockport County and the owners.”

Reports suggest others are interested in Barry

Although County are the only team that have confirmed they are chasing Barry's signature, it seems unlikely they are alone.

In the same TEAMtalk report that first confirmed the Hatters were after a permanent deal for the 20-year-old, it also confirmed that several Championship sides are monitoring his situation as we head into the summer transfer window.

The fact that County are pursuing this deal with real intent, in the face of strong second tier interest, shows just how ambitious the club are.

Barry would be a landmark signing for County

Nick Powell last season, Paddy Madden and Antoni Sarcevic before that; the Hatters are no strangers to a deal that should be well out of reach relative to where they are in the pyramid.

But land them they did, and there is no reason why they can't do the same thing again.

However, the trio previously mentioned, while still having plenty in the tank when they signed, were all closer to the end of their senior careers than they were the start.

Barry is a name that holds weight in his own right, particularly since that famous goal for Villa against Liverpool in the FA Cup, scored when he was just 17 years old against a side that featured the likes of Mohamed Salah and James Milner.

He has bags of potential, so much so that Villa were moved to pay £880k for him as a youth player. Capturing a player with such a high ceiling, at such a young age, on a permanent deal in League One would represent a whole new step in ambition.

The deal will be tough, and likely expensive, to pull off, but he could be the start of the next phase of progression at Edgeley Park.