Aston Villa table Rory Wilson contract offer as clubs chase ex-Rangers teen – Fabrizio Romano
Aston Villa are moving to tie down youngster Rory Wilson long-term after offering him a new five-year contract.
The 18-year-old forward has been in excellent goalscoring form for age-group sides this term and is being watched by a number of clubs, but in a positive update at Villa Park the club are aiming to avoid what could be a cheap exit next year.
Fabrizio Romano reported via Twitter on 24 March that a new deal has been tabled to the Scot, whose current contract expires in 2025.
Were he to leave to a foreign club at that stage Aston Villa would only be entitled to training compensation of €270,000 [£232,000].
The Italian wrote: “Aston Villa have offered a new five year contract to Rory Wilson. He’s scored 36 goals in 42 games so far this season for club and country; current deal expires in 2025. Cross border training compensation will be €270,000 summer 2025, monitored by many clubs.”
Aston Villa look to secure young goal machine
For a player who looks capable of becoming a force in senior football that would be nothing in today’s market, so at the very least a long-term contract extension will protect his transfer value.
Ollie Watkins has been in superb form for Unai Emery this term but has himself been tipped to make a move to the likes of Manchester United or Liverpool.
Even assuming he stays there is only the talented but still relatively raw Jhon Duran to back him up, so Wilson breaking through over the next few seasons to add to the options in attack would be a major boost.
He might not be quite ready for that yet, but given the signs he is showing at the moment it would be hugely frustrating for him to leave for next to nothing just at the point where he likely would be in line to step up.
So if the new deal is accepted it would put Aston Villa in a great position to reap the rewards of the former Rangers youngster’s continued development, whether that be on the pitch or in the transfer market.
The club locked up a first-team star last month with a new deal for Leon Bailey and are now looking to do the same with part of the next generation.
In other Aston Villa news, Unai Emery is set to be without a “brilliant” key man for some time.
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