View: Aston Villa have already shown why they must keep Carney Chukwuemeka
The talk of the Aston Villa transfer window seems to be moving away from their excellent early business, and instead to whether they’re about to lose their starlet.
Carney Chukwuemeka has entered the final 12 months of his contract at Villa Park this season and with an agreement between the two parties not in sight, his future is a hot topic.
Barcelona are said to be showing an interest in the 18-year-old, while Steven Gerrard has omitted him from the club’s pre-season tour while talks continue.
According to reliable transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Villa have accepted that he could potentially leave the club this summer and have slapped a £20m price tag on his head.
But that price tag is exactly why the club must do everything they can to tie him down to fresh terms in the Midlands as soon as possible – because he’s that good.
If you’re capable of demanding a £20m fee for an 18-year-old then you’re aware of his talent. You’re also aware that he deserves to be playing regular first-team football, and they must do everything they can to give him that.
Playing in midfield, there is plenty of competition for places. Jacob Ramsey, John McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Boubacar Kamara, Marvelous Nakamba, Morgan Sanson and Tim Iroegbunam are all considered first-team players.
But Luiz has just one-year remaining on his contract, Sanson has never been favoured by Gerrard since his arrival at Villa Park and Chukwuemeka is undoubtedly a bigger talent than Iroegbunam.
The best thing a football team can have is quality in depth, and having six top talents for three positions is perfect for Gerrard and Villa. There are plenty of games to give players regular minutes and Chukwuemeka will no doubt improve with it.
On the financial side, he has watched several new players come into the club on relatively high wages and will feel that his talent is worthy of a pay-rise to match his reputation. It will take compromise on both sides, but there is surely something to be done with that.
If Chukwuemeka has already been approached and is intent on leaving, then Villa must ensure there is an option to bring him back in the future.
Having a talent like that on your books is rare and it just so happens that he knows it too. The club must do all they can to keep him, even if it means breaking their structure slightly on this occasion.
Rules are made to be broken and exceptions are there to be made, and this is an exceptional talent and circumstance. Don’t waste it.
In other Aston Villa news, Cameron Archer could play his way into the first-team with his pre-season performances