According to Football Insider, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Ajax are all targeting Jaden Philogene-Bidace from Aston Villa.
What’s the story?
The 17-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, which has piqued the interest of the English, German and Dutch champions.
Villa want to sign him to a new deal, though, as he is highly regarded in the Midlands.
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Philogene-Bidace is one for the future at Aston Villa. The 17-year-old has already trained with the senior squad, and has impressed with the U18s in the Premier League division of that age group – in 15 matches, he already has nine goals despite being a winger.
The teenager has already played both on the left flank and on the right, showing his versatility. Ahmed Abdulla, one of the coaches who has looked after him during his time in Birmingham, said of him: “He’s a right footer but he plays off the left. He can come inside or go on the outside. The model winger.”
Formerly on the books of both Arsenal and West Ham as a junior, he could be one for the future.
This is why it is imperative that Villa do all they can to keep him at the club and convince him to resist the temptation of a move to City or either of those two aforementioned European clubs. Losing such a talent would send out the wrong message to the fans – whether or not those clubs have prestige, surely Villa can offer him regular playing time in the future in Smith’s side?
After all, he is just 17 – there is still time for him to develop and prove himself.
The potential compensation fee would likely be minimal, meaning his departure from a financial point of view would make no sense. Time and effort could turn him into a Villa hero – just look at Jack Grealish who also came through the club’s youth system. A goalscoring winger, if Philogene-Bidace stays in the Midlands, he could well follow in the footsteps of Villa’s star man.
A tough act to match, of course, but it’s not impossible.
Elsewhere, this Villa man makes a rallying cry.