Aston Villa are on the verge of striking a bargain transfer for a player they sold to Manchester City five years ago.
Aston Villa have experienced unparalleled success since Unai Emery took over and some of that is down to their incredible work in the transfer window.
Monchi and his recruitment team have made marquee signings, including Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen while casting one eye on acquiring players with the future in mind.
Emery quenched his thirst for signing young talent in the January transfer window as Villa captured 22-year-old Morgan Rogers from Middlesborough, 19-year-old Lino Sousa from Arsenal and 18-year-old Kosta Nedeljkovic from Red Star Belgrade.
Whilst Rogers and Nedeljkovic have starred for the Villans in pre-season, Sousa has just completed a loan move to League One outfit Bristol Rovers.
Now, it appears they’re looking to continue that trend as they close in on the signing of a Manchester City talent.
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Aston Villa now set to resign Man City youngster Kane Taylor in bargain deal
Manchester City snatched 14-year-old Kane Taylor from Aston Villa in 2019. The deal was worth a reported £129,000 under the Elite Player Performance Plan tariff.
City beat the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea to his signature, but now, he could be on his way back to Bodymoor Heath.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Villa are closing in on signing the central midfielder from the Citizen’s under-21 side, with further transfer details since emerging on the 19-year-old.
As per the Athletic journalist Jacob Tanswell, a deal to bring Taylor back to Villa Park is worth £750,000 while City retain a 25% sell-on clause for the England youth international.
Dubbed a ‘powerful’ talent by Man City’s official website, the midfielder signed his first professional scholarship with the Premier League giants in 2021.
He’s since impressed in their under-18 and under-21 sides, as last season the 2005-born talent scored four goals in 19 Premier League 2 appearances. Taylor also caught the eye in the UEFA Youth League, scoring four and assisting five in six appearances.
Villa could have landed a bargain
Taylor returning to familiar territory in Birmingham will be music to the ears of most, who will expect the teenager to fulfil his potential under Emery.
Capable of playing in defence as well as his natural position of central midfield, the youngster is yet to make his senior debut, so it remains to be seen what plan Villa have for him.
He could continue his development in the under-21’s next term, where he’ll get to play with the likes of Kobei Moore and Rico Richards or a loan could be a beneficial avenue.
Several gems from the Villa Academy have flourished temporarily elsewhere, including defender Lamare Bogarde, who enjoyed fruitful spells at Bristol Rovers and is now poised to become a member of the first team.
Regardless of what Emery chooses to do with Taylor, acquiring him for a price of £750k could turn out to be a prolific bargain given the potential for his value to skyrocket.
