Premier League side Aston Villa have reportedly agreed on personal terms with promising Rangers striker Rory Wilson.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Aston Villa have agreed on personal terms with Rangers’ under-18 striker Rory Wilson over a summer move. The Steven Gerrard-managed side will complete the 16-year-old’s signing on July 1.
Gerrard has played a defining role in Villa’s pursuit of the Scottish teenage sensation. The former Liverpool midfielder spent two and a half seasons as a manager with Rangers before Aston Villa came calling in November last year. His influence ensured that interest from other clubs was kept at bay, with the Premier League side swooping in to agree on personal terms with the player.
Wilson scored a mind-boggling 49 goals in youth games in the recently-concluded season and also helped Rangers win the Scottish Youth Cup. He has also been capped 11 times by the Scotland under-17 team and has scored eight goals for them.
The teenage striker had announced last month that a transfer was imminent, suggesting he was looking ‘to get to the next level’ in his career, which is now set to come with Aston Villa. Wilson also stressed that he wants to prove himself and become a ‘top player’.
Aston Villa are set to sign talented Scottish striker Rory Wilson from Rangers, born in 2006. Personal terms now agreed – Wilson will sign on July 1. ???????? #AVFC
Steven Gerrard, the main factor in beating off other interest. Wilson scored 49 goals at youth level this season. pic.twitter.com/lywIN5svZL
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 13, 2022
“Rangers have been brilliant for me,” he told Daily Record in May. “There’s no getting away from that. But it’s time to move on and get to the next level. I’d like to thank Rangers for everything they have done for me because it’s been great for me over the last eight years, but it’s time to leave.”
“I’ll probably be going down south. We’ll wait and see what happens in the next couple of weeks. Everything will be sorted very soon. At Rangers, all the coaches have been fantastic for me. I can’t thank them enough for all their help. I want to go down south and try and prove myself and become a top player and that’s what I am going to do.”
As per Ibrox News, Ranges will only receive a development fee of £300,000 for the teenage striker, who has shown a lot of promise to grow into a top player.
Aston Villa had Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings as their two centre-forwards last season with the latter now being linked with an exit. However, Wilson will have to wait a season or two before he can expect to be incorporated into the Aston first team.
The Villans have been quite active in the transfer window and have already completed the signings of defender Diego Carlos, playmaker Philippe Coutinho and midfielder Boubacar Kamara. It will be interesting to see if Scottish teenage sensation Wilson becomes Aston Villa’s latest signing.
