Exclusive: Dan Bardell delighted by news of new Aston Villa contract for Cameron Archer
We’re delighted to welcome The Athletic’s Dan Bardell as our exclusive columnist each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Aston Villa…
Aston Villa are doing exactly the right thing by giving Cameron Archer a new contract and elevating him to a permanent first-team role says Dan Bardell.
The club announced on Friday (5 August) that the 20-year-old had signed a new five-year deal, putting an end to speculation over the youngsters future, after seven goals on loan in the Championship for Preston North End in the second half of last season had alerted clubs to his quality.
Manager Steven Gerrard has targeted a striker during an ambitious summer transfer window, with names such as former teammate Luis Suarez linked to the Villans, but Bardell feels an arrival is unlikely at the this stage and putting Archer in place to challenge senior pair Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins is the way to go.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News he said: “I think that the way Villa operate I think they’d quite like a striker, if they thought that they could get a striker in that was an upgrade on what they have.
“The striker market’s increasingly difficult because it can be like the goalkeeper market now, because teams play with one up front you’re waiting for the domino effect.
“So unless strikers start to move, especially ones based around the Premier League, there isn’t really a way of getting a top class one in at the moment.
“It’s so so difficult to get someone in up front that’s better than Danny Ings, better than Ollie Watkins, so I think what they’re doing is the right thing.
“Because Watkins and Ings will play together some games. Some games Danny Ings will be on the bench. Cameron Archer I would imagine will be in that 20-man squad all season.
“And with the five subs, rather than panic and buy a striker that isn’t an upgrade on what they have, I’d rather Archer got minutes and pushed Watkins and Ings.
“Because I think he will push them, and I think he’ll work well as an impact sub. And I think he’s done absolutely everything he can do, Cameron Archer, to prove that he’s worthy of a chance.
“Every game that he’s been given, whether it be for the under-23s, going out on loan, when he’s played in the cups, he’s done all that he can do and shown that he can score goals. He’s scored goals in preseason as well.
“So I think what they are doing is the right thing.”
Former Brentford man Watkins has netted 25 Premier League goals for the Lions over the past two seasons, and Ings added seven last year after his move from Southampton.
Those are solid if not spectacular returns, and will need to improve to match Gerrard’s lofty ambitions for this squad.
If a top name became available then a move could be on the cards, but with hopes high for Archer he could offer the additional output that the side needs without having to shell out a hefty transfer fee.
In other Aston Villa news, Chris Sutton has predicted the result of the club’s opening game of the season against Bournemouth.