Cameron Archer joined Middlesbrough back in January and spent the second half of last season on loan at the Riverside Stadium.
The forward made 23 appearances, scoring 11 times as he helped fire Boro into the Championship play-offs.
However, just a couple of month from his loan spell, Aston Villa have said that they are willing to listen to offers for the 21-year-old.
Archer, who has a market value of £12 million, came through the academy at Bodymoor Heath and has been at the club since age eight where he joined from Walsall.
The youngster has only featured nine times for Villa’s first team, with most of his minutes coming from the substitutes bench.
Despite his lack of game time at his parent club, his loan spells at Boro and Preston North End have allowed Archer to feature 11 times for England U21, where he’s scored six times including at the recent U21 European Championships.
Can Middlesbrough re-sign Cameron Archer?
Every Boro fan would snatch your hand off at the chance to re-sign someone of Archer’s quality.
However, a deal for the 21-year-old may come down to whether Chuba Akpom stays at the club this window.
Akpom, who won the Championship Golden Boot and Player of the Season awards last season, is subject to interest from Sheffield United, RC Lens and Ajax.
The 27-year-old wants to stay at the Riverside Stadium but may leave if an offer matches Boro’s valuation of £15 million.
French side Lens have already submitted a bid of £8 million for Akpom, but it remains to be seen if the bid will be considered or negotiated.
As for Archer, Michael Carrick’s side could try and re-sign the youngster on loan, but a permanent deal is preferred by parent club Villa.
It is unknown how much Unai Emery’s side would want for the 21-year-old, but Boro may have to sell star striker Akpom in order to afford Archer.