Aston Villa have extended the contract of midfielder Callum O’Hare, according to the Birmingham Mail.
The regional newspaper claim that the Villans have taken up the option to extend the 20-year-old’s terms so that his deal doesn’t expire until 2020, as he is considered to be one of the hottest prospects to emerge from Bodymoor Heath’s academy since Jack Grealish.
Birmingham Mail journalist Alex Dicken, also added via his personal Twitter account,that Villans boss Dean Smith is set to make a decision on the hot prospect in the summer, as the manager will either look to loan him out or integrate him into the first team.
Understand #AVFC have extended Callum O'Hare's contract beyond the end of this season.
Dean Smith will decide whether to loan him out or integrate him into the first team over the summer. https://t.co/PHtmfSSLgy pic.twitter.com/UDCHMOxRN5
— Alex Dicken (@alexedicken) April 17, 2019
OPINION
O’Hare’s reputation proceeds him as there’s already a lot of hype surrounding the 20-year-old. The attacking midfielder has already managed nine appearances for the senior side in his career and you feel it won’t be long before he racks up more appearances for the club. The only question is whether more first-team appearances await him in his 2019/20 campaign. It will be a tough decision for Smith and it could all come down to what league the Villans find themselves in. If the Villans find themselves in the Premier League by winning promotion through the play-offs then you feel a loan move would be the best case scenario for O’Hare. The 20-year-old clearly wouldn’t be ready to feature in the top-flight just yet and it would be perhaps even a little cruel to throw him in the deep end, as it could crush his confidence. However if the Villans are stuck in the Championship once again, it may be worth utilising O’Hare next season.