Villa have reportedly offered to make the teenage striker the highest-earning 18-year-old in their history.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has revealed that he has changed his mind about handing teenage striker Rushian Hepburn-Murphy a first start this weekend because of the youngster’s refusal to commit to a lucrative contract, as reported by the Birmingham Mail.
Hepburn-Murphy became Villa’s youngest ever Premier League player in March 2015 but has barely featured for the club since that debut under Tim Sherwood.
He was handed just his second appearance of the season as a late substitute in the 1-0 defeat to Cardiff City on Monday.
His future has been the subject of some speculation over the last few weeks as reports emerged that he could leave the club as he searches for regular action, despite his tender age.
Villa know he is one of their top young prospects and, according to the Birmingham Mail, have offered him a huge pay rise which would see him become the highest-earning academy graduate at his age in the club’s history.
The 18-year-old, though, has refused to commit to signing that deal, a situation which has no doubt hugely disappointed club staff.
Bruce was visibly irked at the lack of development, and told reporters, via the Birmingham Mail, that he has reversed his decision to hand the youngster another chance in this weekend’s FA Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur.
Bruce said: “He [Hepburn-Murphy] won’t be involved. We have made a fantastic offer to the young boy but until he commits he won’t be involved.
“I involved him [at Cardiff] because I was informed he would sign but he hasn’t yet. Until he commits then I won’t commit to him. I would rather get a young player in who will commit.”
The situation surrounding Hepburn-Murphy appears to be turning increasingly sour, something which surely has to be attributed to the teenager’s own demands.
Negotiations are believed to have been ongoing for some time, and surely at just 18 years old Hepburn-Murphy would have the sense to realise that fleeting appearances and a hefty pay rise represent progress at such an embryonic stage of his career.
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