Aston Villa are reportedly set to send Cameron Archer out on loan again this season, with Union Berlin and Getafe said to be leading the pursuit for his signature.
The 22-year-old was heavily involved in our pre-season schedule this summer, and with the expectation that Jhon Duran might leave the club, Archer was seemingly being lined up to play an important role this season.
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However, the situation up front appears to have changed after an exit for Duran failed to materialise, as Fabrizio Romano now reports that Archer is expected to leave this summer on a temporary basis once again, and while Union Berlin and Getafe lead the interest being shown in him, it remains to be seen if Bournemouth return after being previously linked.
After impressing at youth level for Villa, the young striker continued to show his quality and potential during successful loan stints at Preston North End and Middlesbrough.
Having been sold to Sheffield Utd last year, he managed just four goals and an assist in 32 appearances for the Blades, and as per a clause in the agreement for his exit, Villa re-signed him earlier this summer to bring him back to the club.
Archer is seemingly now at a stage in his career where he either makes the cut at Villa or is eventually sold on a permanent basis with no return likely this time round.
A loan stint abroad at a top-flight club would certainly represent a step up for him and offer another invaluable experience, giving Unai Emery another opportunity to see how he’s developing and whether or not he’s capable of being a long-term solution for us in attack.
That said, having seen so many of our other top Academy prospects sold in the past two years, with Omari Kellyman and Tim Iroegbunam the latest to depart earlier this summer, time will tell if Archer can ultimately avoid following a similar path and instead prove his worth and ability to deliver at the top level on a consistent basis in a Villa shirt.
From a Villa perspective though, with Ollie Watkins hopefully set to start the majority of our games this season, and with Duran now potentially sticking around and continuing to provide depth and a different dynamic behind him, that will likely significantly limit Archer’s involvement, and so a loan move looks like a sensible temporary solution for all concerned.
