Rory Wilson rejecting Aston Villa’s latest contract offer shows one key problem Unai Emery could have in the future.
Aston Villa have an incredible reputation for developing youngsters through their esteemed academy.
Whether they’re poaching gems from other clubs or overseeing the development of talent who started at Villa from an early age, young players are always on the cusp of a first-team opportunity.
Rory Wilson is one of the latest young players to shine in the youth academy.
Captured from Rangers in the summer of 2022, Villa pulled off a brilliant coup at the time as the young striker was breaking records for the Scottish giants at the age of 16.
Wilson has been described as the Scottish Harry Kane for his exceptional goal-scoring exploits, with the 18-year-old scoring 35 goals in 52 games for Villa’s under-18 and under-21 sides.
It’s such incredible finishing that has attracted the interest of several clubs with Villa placing multiple contract offers on the table for Wilson, all of which have been rejected.
- READ MORE: Aston Villa now at risk of losing the ‘next Harry Kane’ as contract talks reach alarming point
Rory Wilson rejects latest Aston Villa contract offer
In early January 2023, upon his 17th birthday, Wilson signed his first professional contract until June 30, 2025.
Understandably, with his deal expiring next summer, the Villans are keen to tie down one of Europe’s most promising young forwards.
That is mainly because the 2006-born striker can sign a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club in January for €270,000 (£224,000).
To lose such a talented striker for a minuscule fee would be detrimental and it looks more likely to happen by the day.
According to The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, Villa have presented Wilson with a series of five-year deals, including a weekly wage comfortably above the five-figure mark, but he’s dismissed each one.
There is one key reason why he’s rejecting the above offers and it’s out of Unai Emery’s hands.
- READ MORE: Thomas Hitzlsperger praises Unai Emery for what he did with ‘special’ Aston Villa star this summer
Wilson wants to play first-team football
Any player growing up dreams of pulling on the first-team jersey of a top club but unfortunately for Wilson, he doesn’t see that pathway at Villa Park.
The 3-cap Scotland under-21 international knows the chances of him playing in the senior side in years to come, as Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran dominate the minutes.
It leaves Wilson in a position where he has to think of his future and he believes leaving Birmingham and moving overseas is the best option for his career.
Villa have reached a point where it’s becoming harder to hand young players from the academy first-team minutes in the Premier League, with Emery’s men challenging for the Champions League.
Wilson has therefore accepted that his chances are limited and this could have a domino effect on other youngsters, as they’ll know it’s a difficult proposition breaking through and playing regularly.
