Aston Villa have high hopes for striker Cameron Archer – and he is now being compared to Steven Gerrard’s former Rangers striker Jermain Defoe.
Archer has been coming through the Villa ranks, a system that seems to be producing some real talent.
Jaden Philogene-Bidace and Carney Chukwuemeka spring to mind, as does youngster Tim Iroegbunam, who arrived from West Bromwich Albion.
Archer and Philogene-Bidace were loaned out in January as they headed to Championship clubs Preston and Stoke City respectively.
Archer has enjoyed a stunning period away from Villa Park with the goals flying in for Preston.
The 20-year-old striker scored seven times in 20 games for North End, including the winner against bitter rivals Blackpool in April.
Preston would absolutely love to keep Archer for another season but that decision will be down to Steven Gerrard.
Gerrard is close with Preston boss and fellow Liverpudlian Ryan Lowe, so if Archer is going anywhere on loan again, it may well be Preston.
Lowe has now been speaking about Archer having seen him play his final game for North End against Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Lowe has told Lancs Live that he thinks Archer needs another season at Preston in order to develop and then become a Premier League star.
The Preston boss even compared Archer to Jermain Defoe, believing the Villa youngster has a similar style to the Premier League legend.
“I spoke to Cam on Friday about his stay, how well he’s done and how good he’s been and everything else. If he becomes available, he’s basically told me there’s only one place he’d like to go and that’s back here – so that is a big plus for us,” said Lowe.
“I look at Cam, he is four years older than my lad and my lad is still a baby at 16! Cam is 20 but he’s still a baby, who is taking everything in his stride. I told him there is going to be loads spoken about him, loads of people throwing loads of money at Aston Villa to try and buy him. I don’t think it is the right thing to do, for Aston Villa to sell him, I’ve already mentioned that to Stevie (Gerrard).”
“He needs to stay around. I think he is a Premier League player because he’s a goal scorer – a Jermain Defoe type. But I think if he goes out on loan to us again next season, he will find his feet, find his level and kick on the following year – just like Sepp van den Berg and Daniel Iversen have done. If you want to mirror anything, look what those two have done; they will go on to bigger and better probably and I’m sure Cam can do the same,” he added.
Gerrard not only played with Defoe for England but then signed the striker for Rangers, showing just how much he rated him.
Gerrard may see similar qualities in Archer and that could give him a chance of a long-term future at Villa.
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