Chelsea unwilling to sanction cut-price sale for on-loan midfielder

Chelsea are not prepared to accept a cut-price deal for on-loan midfielder Ross Barkley, reports The Birmingham Mail. 

Barkley left the Blues for Aston Villa at the end of September and had proven a solid capture for Dean Smith's side prior to injury. 

The England international hasn't featured for the Villans since late November, but has netted twice and assisted one in six Premier League outings this season. 

With Barkley's loan spell proving a success so far, Villa may well contemplate making his loan move permanent. 

However, the former Everton man still has two years left to run on his current Chelsea deal, and so the west London outfit wouldn't allow him to leave on the cheap. 

As such, Villa may instead turn their attention to David Brooks, who has been impressive for Bournemouth this season following his return from injury.

Brooks has his Premier League admirers, with Manchester United previously linked with a move the Welshman, but it's rumoured that Villa are now in the driving seat for the 23-year-old.