Aston Villa manager Unai Emery revealed that Ross Barkley emerged as a transfer target for him when he analysed Luton Town before facing Rob Edwards’ side last season.
Villa won home and away against the Hatters last term, but Emery liked what he saw from Barkley when preparing for the matches. It was a similar story when Villa geared up for their FA Cup third-round tie against Middlesbrough in January. Emery took a liking to Morgan Rogers before signing him for just an initial £8 million, rising to £15 million after add-ons.
Barkley has scored in his last two league appearances for Villa and made a crucial impact off the bench against Everton and Wolves earlier this season as Villa came from behind to win both matches at Villa Park. Ahead of facing Barkley’s old club Chelsea on Sunday, Emery was asked about the 30-year-old and what he saw in him before recruiting him in the summer.
“I knew Barkley before but watching him play at a high level when I was in Spain or other countries,” Emery said. “Two years ago, when I came here, he left England to play in France with Nice.
“I was surprised because he was a player—he was here four or five years ago—but his career hasn’t been consistent. It had been probably going down.
“Last year, we played Luton at home, here, and we analysed Luton, and I was thinking, ‘Wow,’ how he was playing. In my ideas, my spirit, and my style as a coach, he was completely a player who could play with us.
“Through it, we decided to sign him. And he’s doing exactly the same work I was expecting from him. He’s playing well. I think he can improve. He’s humble; he works hard every day in every training session.
“He’s playing always with the focus we want and he may not be starting matches but he is playing minutes and when he’s in the starting XI, he’s doing very good work.”
