Aston Villa are reportedly open to an exit for Cameron Archer this summer, and it’s suggested that there is strong interest in the talented striker.
The 21-year-old has made a positive impression at every stage of his career thus far, impressing at youth level for us as well as after making a breakthrough for the first-team.
Sign up for the Talk Villa newsletter, a free weekly Villa round-up delivered straight to you!
Loan spells at Preston North End and Middlesbrough followed, and with 11 goals and six assists in 23 appearances for the latter last season, Archer continued to impress to earn his chance under Unai Emery.
Having featured heavily in our pre-season schedule this summer, the expectation has been that he would provide depth behind Ollie Watkins up front this season along with Jhon Duran.
However, according to The Athletic, it’s now reported that Villa are open to approving an exit for Archer, and there is said to be strong interest in acquiring his services.
It comes as Aaron Ramsey is expected to join Burnley in a deal worth £14m plus add-ons, but Villa are understood to have a buy-back clause included in the agreement.
Should a similar situation develop with Archer, and while it would be hugely disappointing to see him move on given the potential that he has shown thus far, Villa would receive another crucial financial boost with his transfer fee given it’s pure profit on a youth product.
That in turn will hopefully help to balance our books and enable us to spend more this summer to strengthen Emery’s squad with reinforcements capable of making a more immediate impact.
That said, should Archer move on this summer, it’s hoped that we push for a buy-back clause to be included in that deal too, as there is a real belief that he will flourish if given an opportunity, and there has long been a hope that he would do that in a Villa shirt.
If he does move on, Emery will undoubtedly push for a replacement to fill the void, as that would leave him with just Watkins and Duran as his options to lead the line this season, and it’s hoped that we do have the option to re-sign him too.