Scouts from Premier League duo Everton and Southampton were in attendance as Callum O’Hare shone for Villa’s Under-23s on Monday night.
With the Birmingham Mail reporting that Everton sent scouts to watch Aston Villa’s Under-23s put Newcastle United to the sword on Monday night, there will surely have been one name in particular that caught The Toffees’ eye.
Callum O’Hare added to his burgeoning reputation with a clinical hat-trick as Villa blew Newcastle away 6-0 at Walsall’s Banks’ Stadium.
And the teenage attacker, who has been on the verge of the first-team all season long, certainly fits the bill for an Everton side who have scoured the country in recent months on the lookout for some of the nations’ most exciting talents.
The report, however, adds that Southampton also sent representatives to watch an impressive Villa youth side against their Tyneside opponents. The Saints, like Everton, have made a habit of blooding young players into the first-team and O’Hare would not be short of opportunities he moved to the South Coast.
Southampton’s scouts have been a regular fixture at Villa’s reserve games in recent times and, if as expected, they have noticed O’Hare’s quality then their interest will only have been piqued by another eye-catching display.
It appears, then, that Everton may have competition if they are keeping tabs on one of the most exciting emerging talents in English football.
O’Hare has played just 43 minutes of senior football in the Championship this season but, having recently signed a two-year deal at Villa Park, the Midland giants will surely do everything in their power to keep him.
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