ROSS BARKLEY faces uncertainty over his future after Aston Villa ruled out a permanent transfer this summer.

The Chelsea midfielder, 27, joined the West Midlands club last September on a season-long loan.

But boss Dean Smith confirmed the Villans have no intention of securing his services for next season – especially with the Blues reportedly quoting a £40million price tag.

Smith said: "No, Ross Barkley came in on loan at the start of the season.

“Obviously, Frank Lampard was the manager at the time we brokered a deal to bring him in on loan.

“He's got another two years left on his contract at Chelsea and that's not been discussed at all.”

Former Everton star Barkley is under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2023.

However, it is unclear he would be able to force his way back into contention under Thomas Tuchel.

Barkley has 86 Chelsea appearances and 11 goals in all competitions since his £15m arrival in January 2018.

This term, for Villa, he has three goals in 20 Premier League matches – including back-to-back strikes in his opening two games under Smith as they beat Liverpool and Leicester.

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He helped dispatch Arsenal at the Emirates but suffered a hamstring injury early on against Brighton in November, ruling the 33-cap England international out until mid-January and he has struggled to make much of an impact since.

A substitute in each of the last eight games, he was brought on in the defeats to Spurs, Liverpool and Manchester City but could not rescue a point.

It now looks impossible for Barkley to force his way into Gareth Southgate's plans as the loan deal hoped.

Now the ex-Everton man will be fretting over where he will be playing his football next season.

Maurizio Sarri and Frank Lampard gave him some matches but with the likes of Mason Mount, Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic hitting form, he may struggle to get much of a look in and a transfer away may be on the cards.

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