Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer on radar of Rangers and Championship duo – report
Cameron Archer has been linked with a move away from Aston Villa with three clubs chasing his signature, according to Alex Crook.
The 20-year-old burst onto the scene in the Carabao Cup when he scored a hat-trick away at Barrow but he wasn’t able to break into the side at Villa Park and was subsequently sent out on loan.
He ended up at Deepdale with Preston North End where he scored seven goals in 20 appearances after a January loan move to Lancashire in the Championship.
According to talkSPORT correspondent Crook, via his personal Twitter account, Middlesbrough and Watford are two second-tier sides hoping to see him recreate his stellar campaign at that level.
Rangers meanwhile may hope to lean on their former manager Steven Gerrard to bring the England Under-21 international to the Scottish Premiership where Archer could also get games in the Europa League.
Only a loan
While Crook mentions the teams who are keen on signing Archer, he doesn’t say if any deal would be a loan move or a permanent switch away from the Midlands.
When you look at his record in the Championship for Ryan Lowe’s Lilywhites, you would be bonkers to allow him to leave permanently because that was his first taste of the Football League and he shone.
There is even an argument to suggest that he could play a part in the first team at Villa Park this season having taken to the Championship like a duck to water.
But with these three sides, and seemingly a lot more, interested in him, we could face an uphill battle to keep hold of him all the way to the end of the transfer window.
Gerrard has to be firm in denying him any kind of permanent move away from the club but if he isn’t in his immediate plans, then a loan is the only option they can take.
In other Aston Villa news, the club could be looking to sign Archer’s replacement already having opened talks with West Ham for an award-winning teenager.