Hull City have agreed a deal to sign highly-rated forward Louie Barry on loan from Aston Villa ahead of Saturday's crunch Championship meeting with Stoke City at the MKM Stadium.

City have been in talks with Villa since the back end of last year in the hope of bringing the 21-year-old sensation to the MKM Stadium. And those discussions have yielded a positive result with Unai Emery happy to sanction his move to the Tigers, having been impressed with Jaden Philogene's development during his short time in East Yorkshire.

Hull Live understands City owner Acun Ilicali held direct talks with Villa owner Nassef Sawiris over the deal to take Barry to the MKM Stadium. A medical is booked to take place on Tuesday.

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Barry, who can play as an out-and-out striker or on the left flank, spent the first half of the season on loan at Stockport County, where he netted 15 times in 23 League One games plus one in the EFL Trophy and has been courted by a host of other Championship clubs, including Sheffield United, Middlesbrough, Leeds United and Derby County. Scottish giants Celtic are also understood to have tried to take him to Parkhead.

In total, for the Edgeley Park club, the Sutton-Coldfield-born ace played 46 times, scoring 25 goals and clocking up seven assists, helping County win promotion from League Two into League One and mount a play-off push this term.

The Tigers' ambition to sign Barry, coupled with the winger's appetite to play in the Championship under Ruben Selles, has played a key role in getting the deal close to being completed ahead Saturday's must-win meeting with the Potters. He would be another eye-catching move in what has been a busy window so far for Selles, having been well-backed by Ilicali.

City's positive relationship with Villa's owners has played a major part. The Tigers signed Philogene in 2023 before selling him back to the Premier League club in the summer just gone, before he eventually moved to Ipswich Town where he linked up with former Tigers stars Jacob Greaves and Liam Delap, and Ilicali's talks with Villa chief Sawiris have been viewed as crucial once more.

Villa view Barry as a huge prospect for the future, but City hope a positive end to the season with the former Barcelona youngster could see them lure him back next term with Emery keen to see him play regularly in the Championship over a lengthy period of time, similar to the approach taken with Philogene.

“We are very happy with Barry, but we have one plan with him, and that is to extend his contract and continue his process as a player and to go on on loan, get experience and confidence," Emery said of the young attacking wizard. "How we are working with him now and last year is the right way for him.”