As every day passes I’m more certain, by the hour, that Ross Barkley has played his last game in a Luton Town shirt.

Returning to my editorial role after a three-day break running my creche, I’ve come across troubling news on social media. It appears that Ross is set to return to Aston Villa, a club he previously played for on loan during the 2020/2021 season, where he made 24 league starts and scored three goals.

Despite reaching the age of 30, Ross, buoyed by his excellent form this season, seems keen to continue playing top-flight football and experience Champions League action with Aston Villa.

However, what concerns me is the reported fee for the transfer. Given Ross’s short-term contract, I wasn’t expecting a substantial sum, but I certainly anticipated more than what social media suggests. It seems the fee will merely match the wages paid to Ross during his brief stint at Kenilworth Road.

Essentially, this means that while we’ve played a role in rebuilding Ross’s career, we won’t be making any significant profit from the deal. In fact, I hesitate to even classify it as a nominal fee.