Aston Villa have made an approach to sign a teenager from a Premier League rival, according to a new report.
Aston Villa transfer latest
In the background, Unai Emery, Monchi, and NSWEO are strengthening the Villa team in preparation for the 2024–2025 season, which will see Villa Park host Champions League games.
Ian Maatsen, a left-back for Chelsea who actually represented Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final earlier this month, will be the team’s first high-profile summer addition. The Bundesliga’s biggest clubs will not be using their option to sign Maatsen long-term, allowing Villa to move forward and reach a £37.5 million agreement.
In addition to Maatsen, former loanee Ross Barkley is expected to finalise a permanent Villa move after an outstanding solo season with Luton Town. Fabrizio Romano anticipates reaching an agreement with the midfield player by early July.
In addition to adding to their senior roster, Villa is expanding their academy. They have already inked a deal with teenage defender Ethan Amundsen-Day, a young international from Norway who left FC Copenhagen. It looks like another adolescent signing, this time in midfield, may be imminent.
Aston Villa make approach for West Ham teenager
According to Claret and Hugh, Aston Villa have made an approach to sign West Ham midfielder Lewis Orford.
The England U18 captain will soon be in the final 12 months of his Hammers agreement, and there have been whispers of a deadlock between Orford and West Ham about fresh terms. This has seemingly led to Villa making their first move, aiming to add Orford to their Villa Park academy ranks.
The Guardian actually included Orford in their ‘Next Generation 2022: 20 of the brightest prospects at Premier League clubs’, comparing him to Declan Rice for his height and Frank Lampard for his propensity to make late runs into the box.
“West Ham continues to be production line for midfielders and Orford, a lifelong fan, might be the latest to follow Declan Rice, Mark Noble, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Michael Carrick.
His height reminds of Rice and Carrick while he has a quicker turn of pace than either, with a range of passing beyond his years that has made him the Hammers’ Under-18 playmaker. There is something, too, of Lampard in his propensity to come late on the scene for scoring possibilities. He participated at Under-18 level when still qualifying for Under-16 and Under-15 level and has dedicated himself to developing his set-piece delivery.”
Since this encouraging report, Orford, at 18, has proceeded into West Ham’s U21 team and made 22 Premier League 2 appearances last season, scoring four goals and contributing two assists.
Primarily a central midfielder, Orford has actually played as a centre-back and even a striker on occasion at junior level for the Hammers, and by the looks of things, a move to the Midlands is one to monitor.
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