James Maddison: Aston Villa have perfect chance to approach Tottenham star after Ross Barkley latest
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Credit: Imago Mon 4 May 2026 10:11, UK James Maddison has recently been linked with a move to Aston Villa, and it is becoming increasingly clear that this needs to happen.Against Tottenham Hotspur, Barkley was given a chance to impress and show why he should remain at the club for the 2026-27 campaign.However, against Spurs, he was simply awful, making little to no impact before coming off late on.With Villa in dire need of quality throughout their squad, the attacking midfielder simply does not possess this.Now, Barkley’s Villa career is surely over, with it being clear he does not have the quality required. 🔄 Aston Villa Transfer Update 🔄 Breaking news on signings, departures, and contract news from the Aston Villa boardroom. VISIT THE VILLA TRANSFER HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Ross Barkley was terrible against TottenhamWhile it is clear that few Villa players can come away from the Tottenham game with their heads held high, Barkley was arguably the worst player on the pitch.The attacking midfielder was unable to have a meaningful impact up top, and was continuously giving the ball away.Ross Barkley’s stats vs TottenhamMinutes85Chances created1Dribbles completed0%Long balls completed0%Dispossessed5Ground duels won 0/9Fouls 3Barkley heavily struggled against TottenhamAccording to Fotmob on 4 May, he only created one chance, did not complete a single dribble or long ball, was dispossessed five times, won zero out of nine ground duels and committed three fouls.As a result, this display directly contributed to the defeat, and potentially damaged the club’s Champions League hopes.Now, Villa must make a quick approach for Maddison to finally add some quality depth to this position.The England international would offer far more than Barkley and is unlikely to ever put in such damaging displays.In comparison, Barkley should be moved on, with Coventry City eyeing his signature.Aston Villa could sign James Maddison for bargain priceFormer Manchester United scout Mick Brown exclusively told Football Insider that Maddison could sign for Villa for a bargain price.If Spurs are relegated to the Championship, it could force the club to allow a sale for a price-cut fee.Villa are plotting to make a move ahead of the summer transfer window, but face competition for his signature.Maddison has missed the entire campaign to date after picking up an injury in pre-season.However, it remains to be seen if Villa will be able to seal the deal, especially if Spurs are able to avoid relegation in the final matches of the season. 🦁 ASTON VILLA INSIDER UPDATE 🦁 Get the inside track on the Villa Park dugout, transfer strategy, player wages, and technical leadership at Bodymoor Heath.
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