Everton midfielder Gareth Barry set to stay amid Aston Villa links

Championship side Aston Villa have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Everton midfielder Gareth Barry as the 36-year-old looks set to stay at Goodison Park this summer, according to The Liverpool Echo.

The former England international only managed 23 Premier League starts for Ronald Koeman’s side this season, and with a midfield department consisting of Morgan Schneiderlin, Idrissa Gueye, Tom Davies, Ross Barkley, as well as the return from injury of Muhamed Besic, first team opportunities look to be getting increasingly difficult for the 36-year-old.

Thus, former club Aston Villa were reportedly interested in bringing him back to Villa Park, eight years after he left to sign for Manchester City, as manager Steve Bruce looks to build a squad capable of returning to the Premier League.

However, they appear to have been scuppered as reports suggest that Barry will indeed remain at Everton over the summer, especially with the Toffees set to embark on a European campaign in the early phase of the season.

Koeman’s men finished seventh in the Premier League yet qualified for the Europa League given that both Arsenal and Manchester United won the domestic cup competitions, and they will enter the tournament at the third qualifying round stage at the end of July.

Thus, they will need a strong squad to tackle the demands of the competition, and it appears that Barry, albeit an unlikely starter now given Koeman’s other options, is a key part of that, and thus looks set to stay at Goodison Park.