Rangers are now facing competition in their hopes of re-signing former youth star Rory Wilson as Aston Villa weigh up the striker’s future.
Reports from Graeme Bailey earlier this month revealed that the Ibrox club had made contact with Unai Emery’s side over a potential deal for the 20-year-old, who left Ibrox in 2022 to head to the West Midlands.
EFL Interest Emerges
However, it is now believed that Rangers will have a battle on their hands if their reported interest is to be believed, with Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke now revealing that ‘a number’ of as-yet-unnamed League One sides have now lodged their interest in Wilson.
The striker was handed the first loan move of his career at the start of the year when Villa sent him to Austrian Bundesliga outfit Sturm Graz, playing four times for the senior team without scoring.
Villa have already fended off prior interest in Wilson in the form of Norwegian side Hamarkameratene, with Ben Jacobs reporting last month that a loan deal had fallen through due to a failure to agree terms with the reigning Europa League winners.
Further interest in the 20-year-old has come from across Europe, with O’Rourke noting that sides in both Denmark and Sweden’s top flights have also looked into a potential loan swoop.
He has already got off to a successful start to this season with the Villans’ Under-21 side, scoring what proved to be the decisive goal in their Premier League 2 opener against Brighton & Hove Albion, as well as featuring in their opening EFL Trophy game against Wigan Athletic.
Which Sides Could Use Wilson?
With Aston Villa recruiting their star for the future in the form of Brian Madjo, who made his bow in the UEFA Super Cup, it seems that for now, unless circumstances change, their youth players, such as Rory Wilson, will be stuck on the fringes of the squad for this season at least.
Therefore, while he could be of use as their lead talisman in the Premier League 2, perhaps allowing the Scottish forward to try and develop in senior football may be the best course of action, especially when there are a whole host of suitors gunning for him.
Rangers, of course, provide the most enticing option as his former club, and with a place available following Youssef Chermiti’s ACL injury on the opening day, he could provide ample backup to Lawrence Shankland in Derek McInnes’ plans.
However, a loan to League One may indeed be the ideal scenario, and with some clubs in need of a new forward, regular football should be the ideal gauge for Villa to see where his level is at.
One club which could certainly use some firepower up front is Barnsley, who are relying on just Makenzie Kirk and Reyes Cleary to lead the line, with the latter better suited to playing out wide as seen last season.
Alternatively, Wycombe Wanderers could be an ideal destination should they fail in their pursuit of Jayden Wareham, with the latest reports suggesting that the Chairboys are ready to submit a second bid for the Exeter City man.
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