Aston Villa are set to raid Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion to sign highly rated midfielder Tim Iroegbunam, as reported by the Birmingham Mail.
Valerien Ismael is only days into his new job but the Baggies boss already appears to be on the verge of losing a player who was expected to play a big role at the Hawthorns in the near future.
Iroegbunam was named West Brom’s academy player of the year following a superb 2020/21 season.
And, having been included in the matchday squad for the final day of the club’s miserable Premier League campaign, the local lad looked set to be rewarded with a first-team debut sooner rather than later.
But it looks as though the 18-year-old from Great Barr will be making his senior breakthrough a few miles down the road instead.
West Brom face losing Iroegbunam to Aston Villa
The Birmingham Mail reports Aston Villa are closing in on a deal that would see Iroegbunam make the short trip from the Hawthorns to Bodymoor Heath.
It’s no secret Villa, under the guidance of another man snatched from West Brom, academy manager Mark Harrison, are working their fingers to the bone to lure some of the most exciting young talent in Europe to the Second City.
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In the post-Brexit era, Villa are expected to prioritise British-based talent rather than imports from EU countries. And that change of tack made an opportunity to bring in Iroegbunam all the more tempting.
The Birmingham Mail adds Steve Hopcroft, Villa’s head of talent identification, was key to the move that saw Iroegbunam join West Brom from Sutton Town. You’d think Hopcroft would have played a major role again as the all-action midfielder closes in on a switch from one Midlands giant to another.
Iroegbunam would become Villa’s third summer signing, after Emi Buendia and Ashley Young.
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