Aston Villa expert certain where Cameron Archer will play next season after latest
Cameron Archer will “definitely” be part of the Aston Villa squad for the 2022-23 season if Steven Gerrard cannot find another striker in the transfer market.
That is the view of Aston Villa’s record Premier League goalscorer Gabby Agbonlahor, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about Archer’s prospects for the upcoming campaign.
The 20-year-old scored in Villa’s 4-0 pre-season victory over Walsall last weekend (8 July) but was an unused substitute in the 1-0 win over Leeds United on Sunday (17 July) out in Australia.
He spent the second half of the 2021-22 season out on loan with Preston North End where he scored seven goals in 20 Championship games.
Asked whether Archer’s involvement in pre-season thus far is a hint to his future, Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “It’s hard to tell, to be honest.
“If Steven Gerrard doesn’t buy another striker then I feel Cameron Archer definitely stays and will definitely be involved next season.
“He’s there on merit and because he deserves to be. He was on fire at Preston.
“He looks like a real good finisher with real good movement and he’s got pace. He’ll be someone that Steven Gerrard will want to keep around the first team.
“With three strikers available, he’s going to have to stay around unless they bring in another one.”
Archer still has three years left to run on his Aston Villa contract but is yet to feature under Gerrard.
He scored four goals in five games across all competitions for the first team in 2021-22 before completing his loan move to Preston.
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