Aston Villa should replicate Ollie Watkins Championship faith in academy graduate Cameron Archer
Eyebrows were raised when Aston Villa took a £28million punt on Championship forward Ollie Watkins in 2020, but considering the ease with which he adapted to Premier League football, the club should follow suit with academy graduate Cameron Archer.
Although Dean Smith has previously worked alongside Watkins with the Bees, the English forward’s record in the Championship was exemplary, scoring 45 goals in 132 games for the London club.
Ever since moving to Villa Park, Watkins has moved from strength to strength, bridging the gap between the two divisions with apparent ease and even representing the Three Lions on seven occasions.
With one eye now turning towards the summer transfer window, Aston Villa should look to make a similar punt on goalscoring academy graduate Archer.
The England Under-21 international has delivered the goods at every level of his professional career, scoring goals wherever he has been plying his trade.
After netting seven goals in 20 games while on loan at Preston last season, the 21-year-old has replicated this goalscoring feat this term, netting six goals and three assists from just 12 outings for Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough.
His goals alone at the Riverside Stadium merit a chance to shine under Unai Emery next season, but whether Villa will take the risk is a burning question at the forefront of supporters’ minds.
When comparing Watkins’ last season at Brentford and Archer’s brief stint at Boro this campaign, there aren’t many differences at all between the two strikers.
Archer has recorded a goal contribution every 94 minutes, compared to Watkins’ 147 minutes in 2019/20, while recording just 0.1 fewer key passes per game than Emery’s number-one forward. [WhoScored]
Although Watkins had an effort on goal 2.7 times per game, compared to Archer’s 1.9, the Villa academy graduate has completed more dribbles (1) per game in a central role than Watkins could (0.7) in a wider position in Thomas Frank’s side.
Considering Watkins was 24 years old when sealing his move to the West Midlands, and Archer is just 21, it further highlights the sky-high potential of the Boro loanee.
A tough decision awaits Aston Villa regarding the future of Archer at the end of the season, but if past experiences can tell the club anything, it is that bridging the gap between the Championship and the Premier League is certainly possible for this up-and-coming talent.
In other Aston Villa news, an academy gem can save Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris millions in the long-run after his recent loan performances.