Barkley set for Chelsea return?

“No, Ross Barkley came in on loan at the start of the season,” Smith said. “He’s got another two years left on his contract at Chelsea and that’s not been discussed at all.”

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has cast a shadow of doubt over the future of Ross Barkley at the club following his current loan spell.

The belief is that Barkley, who is currently on loan from Chelsea at Villa Park, will not be staying at the club on a permanent basis. There had previously been some rumours flying around that Barkley may be interested in staying in the second city, but Dean Smith’s words indicate something entirely different.

Barkley was able to start off like a house on fire when he first joined Aston Villa but over time, that form seems to have disappeared ever so slightly. Now, the hope from Villa fans is that he can recapture it in the weeks to come.