Ross McCormack left in Aston Villa limbo as deadline day deal falls through
Villa midfielder Gary Gardner last night completed a deadline day season-long loan move to Barnsley as Ross McCormack was left in limbo.
The striker had been one of several out-of-favour players hoping to secure a last-minute exit from Villa Park, with Sunderland keen to take him on a season-long loan.
But the Black Cats entered the final hours of the transfer window unable to reach agreement with Villa over who would pay what percentage of McCormack’s £45,000-a-week wages.
Villa also rebuffed Sunderland’s advances for defender Tommy Elphick, which at one point included a £1million bid.
Concerns over a knee injury sustained by fellow centre-back Chris Samba and Villa’s relative lack of depth in defence meant Steve Bruce opted to keep Elphick at the club.
On an otherwise quiet deadline day, Gardner joined Barnsley after finding his opportunities for first-team action further limited by the summer arrivals of Glenn Whelan and Josh Onomah.
The 25-year-old, who signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract at Villa last December, had made only one appearance so far this season.
Gardner was also being chased by Bolton but opted for a move to Oakwell as he aims to kick-start his career.
