Premier League club 'interested' in signing Cameron Archer from Aston Villa
Aston Villa transfer news from BirminghamLive as Unai Emery admits that England U21 striker Cameron Archer could leave Villa Park this summer
Sheffield United are reported to be interested in signing Cameron Archer from Aston Villa after Unai Emery admitted the striker could leave the club this summer.
Archer has spent time out on loan with Middlesbrough and Preston North End, and caught the eye with his goalscoring exploits. He also recently helped England to European U21 Championships glory.
Asked about the 21-year-old's future ahead of Villa's opening game of the 2023/24 Premier League season at Newcastle United this weekend, Emery said: "He played very well last year at Middlesbrough. He scored goals and his level increased.
"We are with Ollie Watkins, Jhon Duran and him in the squad. Duran is still injured but he is coming back next week and hopefully we can add him in two or three weeks after working with us.
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"With Cameron Archer we were playing him in pre-season and we were thinking it could be a possibility to let him go and play and continue improving his level in another club. Actually, he is our player and we want to keep him under our control always because we believe in him. Sometimes the plan that we have to do with them, or him in this case, is to try and help him continuing taking time and minutes and confidence in another club."
Emery added: "We have always two options, sometimes on loan, sometimes selling them. We are analysing each case individually and trying to get the best option."
Now our colleagues at YorkshireLive are reporting that Archer is among the targets that Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom is keen for the club to explore following their promotion back to the top flight. Heckingbottom has apparently submitted his shortlist to the Bramall Lane board as he looks for new arrivals to help bolster his squad.