Leeds United and Middlesbrough set for Cameron Archer transfer battle with Aston Villa now ready to sell – Ben Jacobs
Leeds United are one of the clubs to watch regarding a move for Cameron Archer with Aston Villa “now prepared to sell him”, according to Ben Jacobs.
The CBS journalist told GIVEMSPORT (13 August) that he would “expect” the 21-year-old striker to be on the move before the window closes and the Whites are in the frame to sign him along side Middlesbrough where he spent the second half of last season on loan.
The English forward scored 11 Championship goals with six assists from just 20 league outings for Boro last term and could be the answer at Elland Road, where an injury crisis saw the Whites start the season without Patrick Bamford, Mateo Joseph of Georginio Rutter unavailable.
Jacobs told GIVEMESPORT: “With Archer, what’s interesting is that he’s been made for sale now. So there is an opportunity to do that deal.
“He’s had a couple of good loan spells in the Championship including with Middlesbrough and now, Aston Villa are willing to let him go.
“I think that he put himself in the short window with I believe, a couple of goals and an assist at the under 21 Euros for England.
“He also scored plenty of goals he got into double figures for Middlesbrough last season and I think that was only in about 20-odd appearances and he added several assists on top of that.
“So that can be one to watch because Aston Villa are now prepared to sell him. Leeds are one of the clubs no doubt Middlesbrough are another.
“So I would expect movement on Archer between now and the end of the window.”
Door open
Archer looked to be on the cusp of a breakthrough at Villa Park for some time but after proving himself more than once in the Championship it appears that opportunity still isn’t going to come now.
While Daniel Farke has various options for players who can stand in as a striker when pushed he only has Bamford as a senior number nine and the emerging youngsters Joseph and Sonny Perkins.
Amid extensive upheaval in the transfer market the Leeds United boss is currently unable to say for certain if any of his squad will remain past the close of the transfer window, but he surely needs a striker in that time.
With a contract that runs until 2027 Archer is unlikely to be a bargain, but in terms of a player who has shown he can be effective in the second tier he might be worth the cost if the Whites can afford it.
The Villa man also previously scored seven times for Preston North End and the fact that he is available shows the opportunity is there to address a need at Elland Road.
Joe Gelhardt started the 1-0 loss at Birmingham City on Saturday but it has become clear in the past 18-months he is not at his best leading the line.
The Whites have been linked to the likes of Joel Piroe, Michail Antonio and Yussuf Poulsen this summer, but a chance to land Archer might be where they finally find success.
In other Leeds United news, a Whites ace is now set to train alone after his last-second message to Farke disrupted match plans.