In-demand Hearts star backs Aston Villa and Manchester United transfer decision

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The Scotland international had the chance to join the Villains but decided against the move.

Hearts teenage striker James Wilson has backed his decision to reject moves to Aston Villa and Manchester United after recently making a breakthrough in to their first-team.

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In May 2023, Wilson signed a two-year contract with Hearts, despite visiting the training grounds of several English clubs including Villa and Man United. Old Firm duo Celtic and Rangers were believed to be interested as well as Leeds United, Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion.

On Sunday, Wilson was the hero in the Edinburgh Derby, as he scored Hearts' equaliser against Hibs. Former Aston Villa assistant manager Neil Critchley is in charge of Hearts now, and he made the decision to introduce the youngster.

Wilson, who is only 17, has stood by his decision to reject several English clubs including Villa. To date, he's made six appearances for the first team, scoring two goals, and he believes playing at a senior level in Scotland is the best move for the development of his career right now.

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“Yeah, I hope to stay here,” he said to Scottish football website Not the Old Firm.

“I hope to keep playing well. Whatever happens, happens.

“Ultimately, if I went down south, I don’t know where I’d be at the moment. I could be playing under-18 football down there, so I’m just trying to prove there’s another option. You dream of moment like that goal. That’s what I wanted to do the night before.

“I wanted to come on and score… score a better goal than that! But no, I wanted to score. It was brilliant. Then I wanted to get the winner. I wanted to go and win the game. More senior boys told me to slow the game down a bit and just relax. Yeah, I was just buzzing to score, to be honest.”

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Wilson is contracted to Hearts until the summer of 2025, but there is an option to extend his contract by a further year. The Scottish club will apparently make him a new contract offer on the back of his exploits in the derby.

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