Cameron Archer will be considering his options at Aston Villa this summer after a new Jhon Duran transfer update emerged, according to Alan Hutton.
The 22-year-old forward has returned to Villa Park this summer following Sheffield United’s relegation to the Championship and has featured in the Villans’ first pre-season matches, even scoring against Spartak Trnava.
Archer remains behind both Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran in Unai Emery’s pecking order, but the latter appears to be closing in on a move away this summer as West Ham continue to push for his signature [Fabrizio Romano, 25 July].
Although Hutton believes Duran’s exit could provide Archer with more opportunities this season, he thinks the forward’s future will depend on whether or not Emery signs another centre-forward.
“He’s going to find it hard to knock Ollie Watkins off his perch,” Hutton exclusively told Villa News.
“But he’s a young guy who can score goals, who works ever so hard, likes to run in behind as well and he’s a real threat.
“If Duran was to leave and we don’t know who is going to come in or if they’re going to sign somebody or not, there could be an opportunity for him.
“Duran showed last season that when he was given opportunities he could score goals and take chances. Archer might have to wait for those opportunities because he’s not going to be a regular starter I wouldn’t have thought.
“It’s an interesting moment for him because yes he’s young, but he won’t want to be giving away any years of his career.
“I think he’ll do his pre-season, work as hard as possible and then he’ll see what his options are come the end of it because Villa could bring in another striker which means he’s down the pecking order again.
“So he’ll have to wait and see.”
Will Cameron Archer exit Aston Villa amid Jhon Duran transfer speculation?
Villa have already been linked with several strikers during the summer transfer window, but so far there has been little movement in or out of the club at the top end of the pitch which will come as good news for Archer.
The 22-year-old’s record in the Premier League is reasonably impressive given how poor Sheffield United were last season so he would be a more than able deputy for Watkins.
But with the Champions League also on the agenda next term, Emery is almost certainly going to be in the market for another quality number nine so the Villans aren’t quite as reliant on the goals of the England international.
If that happens, it seems almost inevitable that Archer will head out of Villa Park for the second summer in a row because he will be little more than a rotation option.
In other Aston Villa news, Leander Dendoncker has been told to quit Villa Park after new summer transfer developments
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