30-year-old midfielder linked with move to Newcastle signs three-year deal at Premier League rival

Aston Villa have beaten Newcastle United and Everton to the signing of a midfielder who surprised everyone with his Premier League performances.

Luton Town made a shock signing last summer when they picked up former Everton and Chelsea man Ross Barkley on a free transfer following his release from French club Nice. Which was nice.

Barkley had shown a tonne of promise when he burst onto the scene after graduating from Everton's academy and it wasn't long before that talent vacuum and ruiner of promising youngsters, Chelsea snapped up the England international and promptly turned him to utter bogwash.

During his time at Chelsea Barkley spent a season on loan at Aston Villa, a club to which he has now returned in a reported £5million deal according to Newcastle World.

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Ross Barkley impressed in his season at Luton Town

Following his impressive displays in the Premier League for Luton Town, Newcastle considered an approach for the 33-times capped England international, but given how crowded our midfield is already, it looks like they clearly thought better of it.

Barkley has now signed a three-year deal with Aston Villa who will be participating in next season's Champions League.

While this technically goes down as another transfer target missed, the reality is there was never really likely to be a move from Newcastle unless we moved on a couple of centre midfielders.

Newcastle can still afford to let another centre-midfielder leave before needing to dip into the market

Newcastle have sold Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest, but given that Sandro Tonali's ban comes to an end a couple of games into the new season, his absence has already been filled.

Sean Longstaff could still leave this summer, but that still leaves us with Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Tonali, Lewis Miley and Joe Willock.

Although, there's a strong feeling that Joe Willock could be moved on this summer. His injury problems last season were a huge concern and, most telling of all, his name and number didn't appear in the dropdown list of players names to get printed on the shirt when the new kit launched ... this has now been rectified though, which should ease the worries.

Willock should get another season at the club for sure because when he's fit he's got the potential to be phenomenal, and we need to see if he's still got it before making a call on his future. Longstaff on the other hand can leave for us. Local lad, top bloke, but average footballer unfortunately.