Aston Villa ‘checking in’ on EFL sensation chased by Tottenham and Newcastle United

Port Vale youngster Baylee Dipepa is being tracked by a host of Premier League clubs following an impressive breakthrough season in the third tier of English football.

The attacker, who only turned 17 in January, scored three goals and made two assists in just 724 minutes of League One action throughout 2023/24. An England Under-17 international with three goals in three caps, Dipepa’s talents have already been recognised at a very high level and he’s bound to move onto pastures new this summer.

The Daily Mail reports Man Utd are “leading the race” to sign Dipepa but Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Borussia Dortmund and Red Bull Leipzig are all keen. Villa, also mentioned in the report, are said to have checked in on the promising centre forward ahead of a potential swoop.

It’ll be tricky to take for Port Vale to lose Dipepa as he appears to be at the level many clubs wait many years or even decades to see break through, but the reality is the player needs a step up to reach his vast potential. Dipepa himself might find it tricky to depart, too, as he’s been part of the Port Vale setup since he turned eight.

If Villa acquire Dipepa this summer, he’d join up with an already talented academy squad at Bodymoor Heath. The likes of Omari Kellyman, Lamare Bogarde, Kerr Smith and Finley Munroe have been handed occasional first-team opportunities, something Dipepa would relish.

Loaning the teenager out could be one route of boosting his development, while a temporary move straight back to Port Vale could also be considered. The Valiants’ recent relegation to League Two might reduce the chances of that, mind.