Aston Villa forward Louie Barry would be the perfect fit for Sunderland according to EFL pundit Ali Maxwell.

Barry has been recalled from his loan spell at Stockport County having scored nine goals and providing four assists in 22 games to help Stockport to the League Two title last season. He returned for a second loan stint at Edgeley Park in the summer and has scored 16 goals in 24 appearances in a remarkable first half of the campaign for Dave Challinor’s side.

But Villa recalled him, leaving Stockport without their top scorer. A host of Championship clubs are believed to be keen to sign him on loan, with Sunderland, Leeds United and Burnley among those who are interested, according to the Sunday Mirror, while Derby County have also made a move.

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With Romaine Mundle and Tommy Watson both sidelined due to injury, Barry could be an ideal signing for the Black Cats, who currently sit fourth in the Championship table, just two points from the automatic promotion places. While Sunderland face plenty of competition for Barry’s signature, Maxwell believes that a switch to the Stadium of Light would be the best move for the 22-year-old, and he insisted he would fit perfectly into Regis Le Bris’ team.

“I think the answer is Sunderland,” Maxwell said on the Not The Top 20 podcast. "This might be dead in the water because Sunderland are not that keen on loaning other teams’ players, but I do think there’s potential to have something in the contract where there is a big buy price if promotion is secured, and that’s something that might appeal to them and their recruitment strategy.

“At the moment, you’ve got Romaine Mundle and Tommy Watson both out injured, you’ve got Aouchiche in from the cold playing left-wing currently, but he’s just not a killer. He’s a nice player, he’s easy on the eye, but he’s not a killer and I think Barry is.

“Barry is basically the closest thing to Jack Clarke, other than maybe Tommy Watson and Romaine Mundle, that I can think of. I think he’d thrive playing for Sunderland, and being involved in a promotion shake-up, experiencing massive games at the Stadium of Light, potentially play-off games with a ton of pressure as well, could be huge for him.

“Purely tactically, because I’m a pragmatist, they’ve got that solid left-back, whether it’s Aji Alese or Dennis Cirkin, they’ve got sturdiness at left-back.

“They don’t need the left winger to be hugely diligent defensively because they’re always going to have that really strong left-back behind him, and I think that would suit Barry and allow him to thrive. Sunderland and Louie Barry, for me, would be an incredible fit. I have no idea if they’re interested whatsoever, but that’s what I would like to see.”