Carney Chukwuemeka is being talked up as Aston Villa’s very own Jude Bellingham, the Athletic report.
Chukwuemeka has made a big impact both with Villa and with England’s youth-team this season.
England’s youth coaches, of course, worked with Bellingham when he was just a teenager.
And the Athletic say that they believe he could thrive in a similar manner, if managed in the right way by Dean Smith.
Villa know all about Chukwuemeka’s talents already, and he was with the first-team for their game against West Bromwich Albion at the weekend.
However, Chukwuemeka’s talents are now also being noticed from afar with Manchester United and Manchester City among the clubs interested.
Villa will surely be determined to keep hold of the teenager, who is still waiting for his first team chance.
Villa’s youngsters took on Liverpool earlier in the season in the FA Cup, but Chukwuemeka was not involved on that occasion.
Smith’s challenge will be to ensure that he gets minutes in the coming years, and there is a gap in Villa’s first-team for the youngster.
Chukwuemeka is a central midfielder, and while Villa do have options in the area, they could still be strengthened.
Jacob Ramsey has been given chances with the claret and blues this term, which offers hope that Chukwuemeka could receive similar game time in the years ahead.
And if he does develop into anything like the player Bellingham has at Borussia Dortmund, then Villa will have a serious star on their hands.
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