Aston Villa’s boss has reportedly made a decision on the future of young England U-21 striker Cameron Archer as Leeds United look to enter the race for his signature.
Initailly, Villa boss Unai Emery was said to have been keen on keeping the talented forward at Villa Park. However, according to Birmingham Live, it now appears that he is willing to allow the 21-year-old to join another club, but crucially, with certain ‘conditions’ attached.
Middlesbrough may well be interested, as they should have funds from the sale of Chuba Akpom, who is close to completing a move to Dutch giants Ajax.
A deal may prove difficult to make though, with Premier League side Sheffield United interested – ironically looking at Archer because they missed out on Boro player Akpom – and also Leeds who are on the lookout for added firepower. Both are likely to have more financial clout than Boro at this point.
Another of Villa’s exciting talents, Aaron Ramsey, is in a similar situation and is in line to join newly-promoted Burnley with a buy-back clause inserted into the deal.
It is a clever move by the Midlands outfit, who acknowledge that their young prospects are developing well and could still turn out to be potential first-team regulars.
Emery recently said in an interview that he would need to keep his fringe strikers (Archer and John Duran), insisting, “We have to use both as well and we have to give them chances to help us.”
Riverside return
That stance seems to have changed now, which will alert the likes of Middlesbrough, Leeds and Sheffield United.
Emery said, “He is our player and we want to keep him under our control always because we believe in him. Sometimes the plan is to try to help him continuing taking time and minutes and confidence at another club.”
Middlesbrough will receive a healthy fee for Akpom but, with impending deals in the works for left-back, Lukas Engel from Silkeborg and Atalanta forward, Emmanuel Latte Lath, it may be that the remainder of any business would be loan agreements only.
Boro fans would definitely love to see the pacey poacher, who managed 11 goals for the club last season, return to the Riverside for another spell; especially given their current goal-scoring woes.
The Teesside club have failed to score in their first two league games. They fell to defeat at home to Millwall (1-0) and suffered a 3-0 defeat away to Coventry City on Saturday.
They currently have no recognised number nine. Archer would fit the bill perfectly and even suits the recruitment model that the club is working towards. Young, plenty of potential, under 24. Stranger things have happened in football, but Boro remain outsiders to land him.