Aston Villa are reportedly hoping to beat Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Southampton, Tottenham and West Ham United to the signature of Barnsley’s James Bree.
According to The Mirror, Aston Villa are ready to make a £4million bid for Barnsley full back James Bree – but Premier League clubs are also keen to sign him.
Bree, 19, has come up through the ranks with Barnsley, and after playing 24 games last season, he’s turned out 19 times this term having become a key player under Paul Heckingbottom.
Barnsley have enjoyed great success in developing their own defenders in recent years, as John Stones impressed with the Tykes before joining Everton and then Manchester City, and Mason Holgate also joined Everton in 2015 having come up through Barnsley’s ranks.
Barnsley’s James Bree (L) in action with Fleetwood Town’s David Henen
Now, Bree appears to have impressed enough to trigger Premier League interest, with The Mirror reporting that a host of clubs are interested in signing the teenage right back.
It’s stated that Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Southampton, Tottenham and West Ham United are all keen on signing Bree having watched him over the course of this season.
However, the club making the first move for Bree appears to be Aston Villa, with Steve Bruce allegedly poised to make a £4million bid to sign the youngster during this month’s transfer window.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce
Bruce doesn’t appear to be convinced by Alan Hutton, and with Ritchie De Laet out until the end of the season with a serious knee injury, Bruce may see Bree as the long-term solution to Villa’s right back problems.
Yet, with so many Premier League teams also interested, Villa could face real competition, with West Ham United certainly in the market for a right back after problems with Sam Byram and Alvaro Arbeloa.
Tottenham certainly focus on English youngsters, but Bree may not be needed. Not only does Mauricio Pochettino already have Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier at his disposal, but youngster Kyle Walker-Peters is coming up through the ranks, and a move for Bree may hamper the 19-year-old’s development.
Manchester City and Manchester United may both be in the market for young right backs to develop, whilst questions over Mathieu Debuchy and Carl Jenkinson mean that Arsenal could be a viable destination for Bree, with interest hotting up.
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