Aston Villa are at huge risk of losing one of England’s brightest academy stars with the January transfer window fast approaching.
Aston Villa captured goal machine Rory Wilson from Rangers in the summer of 2022.
Aged 16 at the time, the Scottish forward has continued his rich vein of scoring form in Birmingham, netting an impressive 35 goals in 52 appearances for the Villans under-18s and under-21s.
Compared to one of England’s greatest-ever strikers Harry Kane, Wilson is one of the finest talents to emerge in recent times and someone who could develop into a world-beater.
Though, with his contract expiring in 2025, Villa have presented Wilson with a series of five-year deals, including a weekly wage comfortably above the five-figure mark.
However, the 2006-born striker has dismissed each one as he wants to be playing regular first-team football, which is something he isn’t guaranteed under Unai Emery.
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Aston Villa’s latest stance on Rory Wilson’s future
Should Villa fail in their attempt to tie the youngster down to an improved contract, Wilson can sign a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club in January for €270,000 (£224,000).
To lose such a precocious talent for a minuscule fee would be a travesty and sources close to Aston Villa News have said that the club are ‘worried’ he will sign a pre-contract agreement elsewhere.
Wilson’s camp believes he’s one of the best young strikers in the Premier League academy and should be awarded accordingly.
This stance puts Emery in a tricky situation, as it feels to keep the talented teenager, he would have to play him in the first team, and there’s no chance gets into the side over Jhon Duran or Ollie Watkins.
Villa are desperate to keep him but they know several rival clubs are readying offers to land him in January, and they may have to reluctantly watch him leave.
Ben Broggio could be more promising than Rory Wilson
Wilson has the potential to become a top young striker but he isn’t the only Villa academy star who is currently scoring goals for fun.
Despite being just 17 years old, Ben Broggio has already made his first senior appearance under Emery, coming off the bench in the Carabao Cup win over Wycombe Wanderers.
The talented forward, who doesn’t turn 18 till January 2025, has enjoyed a prolific start to the 2024/25 campaign with three goals in seven Premier League 2 appearances as well as a goal and an assist in the UEFA Youth League.
Broggio is one year younger than Wilson but he’s already made his first-team debut and he’s flying for the under-21s.
It highlights to Emery that, losing Wilson wouldn’t be the end of the world as there is someone equally as talented in the academy.
