Unai Emery delivers Aston Villa transfer verdict amid Sheffield United ‘done deal’ claim

Unai Emery has all but confirmed the departure of Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer after reports circulated that Sheffield United had agreed a transfer.

Archer was considered for first-team opportunities at Villa Park after he scored 11 goals and assisted six more in 20 appearances for Middlesbrough last campaign, but a sizeable bid was too good to refuse.

Sheffield United, one of the three sides promoted for this season’s Premier League, have seen a number of key players go this summer but they are very close to securing Archer as a big signing.

The Athletic reported on Wednesday that the Blades had agreed an £18.5 million deal with Villa and had booked Archer a medical. Rather crucially, there’s a buy-back clause for Unai Emery’s side.

As seen with the £14 million sale of Aaron Ramsey to Burnley, the Villans are trying a new approach of letting youth academy graduates leave with the view to bringing them back further down the line.

“With Cameron Archer, I spoke in pre-season and like every player, he needs to play. He needs to progress. He did very good work last year and now he has the possibility to leave,” Emery said post-Hibernian.

“I don’t know if it’s now 100 per cent official but if he’s leaving it’s because it’s good for him and good for the club as we can take some money from the transfer.

“Then, we’re trying to get 100 per cent control of his progress [with the buy-back] because we believe in him. I think we are closing the deal with those circumstances we want,” Emery continued.

With just 14 senior appearances for Villa across three seasons, Archer never really got his chance to shine in B6. He has the perfect platform now, though, as he could lead the line in the Premier League.