Aston Villa manager Dean Smith is looking to beat his former club Brentford to the signing of Southend United striker Charlie Kelman, according to Football Insider.
The reliable site claim Villa and the Bees are among the clubs showing the strongest interest in highly-rated 16-year-old Kelman, who has scored at an astonishing rate at youth-team level.
Football Insider report that scouts from the Championship duo “have been keeping tabs on Kelman for some time” and are expected to watch the teenager in action for Southend in this week’s FA Youth Cup clash against Leyton Orient.
Good move for Aston Villa?
There is no doubt that Kelman, who does not turn 17 until next month, is a hugely exciting prospect. His goalscoring record is sensational. He scored an absurd 61 goals in the 2017-2018 season for Southend’s academy, which was nearly 20 goals more than the highest scorer in his native US at an equivalent level. As Football Insider report, Kelman, who spent much of his childhood in Texas, is regarded as one of the best youth talents in English football. He is showing no signs of letting up, adding a further eight goals this season and is closing in on a first senior start for Southend after making a goalscoring debut for the club’s Under-23s earlier this month. Blisteringly quick and with an eye for goal, Kelman is definitely one to watch.
This Is Futbol rating 7/10
Likely to happen?
This Is Futbol rating 6/10
Kelman’s future is suddenly up in the air. He has not yet been offered a professional deal by Southend and, with his 17th birthday next month, his suitors higher up the football pyramid are ready to throw a load of cash to win the race for him. Certainly, Villa have the resources to blow Brentford out of the water.