Ross Barkley lined up for shock return to former club less than 24 hours after Luton relegation

Ross Barkley is set to remain in the Premier League next year and is closing in on a departure from Luton Town.

Luton were relegated on the final day of the season after a 4-2 defeat to Fulham at Kenilworth Road, bowing out of the top flight after just a single campaign.

Rob Edwards’ side earned plenty of plaudits for their performances throughout a difficult campaign and took their goal tally to 52 - only Blackpool (55) found the net more times during a 20-team Premier League season in which they were relegated.

Barkley - who joined the club on a free transfer last summer - was one of the stand-out performers with some fans suggesting he should be considered for a place in England’s EURO 2024 squad.

The 30-year-old has been linked with a shock move to Manchester United but reports suggest he is closing in on a move to a different Premier League side.

The Guardian claim it is Aston Villa who are close to sealing a deal for the midfielder, four years after he initially moved to Villa Park on loan from Chelsea.

Unai Emery’s side secured Champions League football in a historic season but must adhere to strict profitability and sustainability rules despite a cash injection due to qualifying for Europe’s top competition.

Barkley is expected to arrive for a ‘modest fee’ and would represent a similar low-risk deal to the move to sign Youri Tielemans after his contract expired at Leicester last year.

Ross Barkley celebrates scoring during his time at Aston Villa (Getty)

However, there could be a twist to the tale if United firm up their interest.

United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly would like to bring him to Old Trafford this summer and has already signed him once before, bringing Barkley to OGC Nice in 2022.

The Sun’s Alan Nixon now reports that Barkley is ‘holding on’ to see whether United firm up that early interest with a concrete offer.

It’s not currently known how long Barkley’s contract at Luton was for and Edwards refused to give anything away when asked in January.

He said: “I don’t think I ever said how long we signed him for. He might have signed for longer than that (end of the season), I’m not going to say. We don’t like to give too much away, but I’ll let people go and do their work. I’ll have to go and ask someone as well, I think he’s longer than a year.”