Aston Villa have reportedly agreed on a £2 million deal with Dundee United for Kerr Smith, also a target for Everton and Chelsea.
According to the Daily Record, Aston Villa and Dundee United have agreed on a deal for teenage centre-back Kerr Smith. The Scottish defender has now been given permission to travel to England to complete his medicals and other formalities pertaining to the move.
Kerr Smith is regarded as one of the brightest prospects coming out of Scotland, and the heavy interest in the teenage defender signifies his status. Many Premier League clubs have been keen on the youngster, and it seems Aston Villa have won the race to snap him up.
Despite only making a handful of senior appearances for Dundee United, Smith was chased by at least three Premier League clubs before Aston Villa made their interest known. While he may not have been a player clubs have been looking for their first-team squads, Smith certainly is a fantastic prospect for the future.
Chelsea were also keen on signing and integrating him into their Under-23 setup. However, after Aston Villa tabled an offer for the teenager, the Midlands club became instant favourites; with the club taking a different approach towards bringing in new players since Steven Gerrard’s appointment, this is a step in the right direction.
Beating significant competition for Smith is one thing; Villa have found new vigour in attracting quality players in the current window. Much of the credit is expected to go to Gerrard, and his pull, something the Villans may not have had before the Liverpool legend’s arrival.
They have already made great strides in the current window. Aston Villa signalled their intent by bringing Philippe Coutinho on loan from Barcelona, which would not have been possible without Gerrard’s presence. Plenty of other important stars are expected to arrive before the month’s close, which will strengthen their current squad.
Everton’s Lucas Digne is also close to a move to Villa Park, and now the club has secured an exciting prospect by reaching an agreement worth £2 million for Smith. The Scottish prodigy will be integrated into Aston Villa’s Under-23 side, which will be a significant upgrade considering the English system for most 17-year old players. Interestingly, Everton were also keen on signing Smith.
Smith, considering his reputation, can have a good time at Aston Villa, and with good performances at the Under-23, he can expect a rapid rise into the first-team setup if things start favouring his development. As for Villa, this is a good signing, with a great asset for their future Premier League teams set to arrive at the club.