© Reuters
The future of Cameron Archer remains up in the air heading into the final few weeks of the summer transfer window, with the Aston Villa forward struggling for regular game time with the Premier League side.
Unai Emery already has some strong options available to him in attacking areas, and despite their well-publicised injury problems, Archer is still finding it tough to break into the starting XI in the early stages of the 2023/24 Premier League season. The 21-year-old has spent the last two years out on loan in the Championship, and he could soon be returning for a third loan spell in the second-tier of English football. He spent last year's league campaign on loan with Middlesbrough, which ultimately ended in disappointment, as Boro lost to Coventry City in their Championship play-off semi-final. In the year prior to that loan spell at the Riverside, Archer was playing his football at Deepdale with Preston North End.
Southampton are the latest club to reportedly register their interest in signing Archer this summer, who still has four years remaining on his current contract with Aston Villa. The Saints have made a strong start to the 2023/24 season, and will be looking to win promotion back into the Premier League at the first time of asking under the management of Russell Martin. Southampton could soon be dipping into the transfer market late on, with rumours persisting that Everton are edging closer to completing a deal to sign Scottish international Che Adams.
Southampton aren't the only club that are reportedly keen on landing his signature though, with Sheffield United and Leeds United being the other teams that are eager to strike an agreement with Aston Villa to sign Archer. A move to Southampton could prove to be the ideal move though, especially if he can be given first-team assurances. He's a player that has shown his quality at Championship level before, having scored 11 goals in 23 appearances for Middlesbrough last season.
With the level of quality in the Southampton team, you'd like to think that Archer would score plenty of goals for Russell Martin's men, and he could prove to be the ideal replacement for Che Adams, who would leave a sizeable void in their attack. He's shown his creative side as well, having provided six assists for Middlesbrough in his loan spell, and so the Saints would be getting a player with proven success at this level.
It's been revealed by Bonus Code Bets that Southampton are priced at 9/2 to win the 2023/24 Championship title. Below, you'll find the betting odds on Sky Bet for the rest of the promotion contenders in the Championship.
- Leicester City @ 2/1
- Ipswich Town @ 6/1
- Leeds United @ 12/1
- Norwich City @ 12/1
- West Brom @ 18/1
- Coventry City @ 22/1
- Stoke City @ 25/1
- Watford @ 25/1
Odds displayed are correct as of 3:30 pm, Monday 21st August 2023. Odds are subject to change.
