Revealed: Aston Villa plot swoop to sign another Chelsea centre-forward on permanent deal
Aston Villa are plotting a summer swoop for promising Chelsea centre-forward Martell Taylor-Crossdale, Football Insider understands.
The Midlands giants have turned their attention to the England Under-20 international following the huge success this season of on-loan Tammy Abraham.
A Villa source has told Football Insider that the club are keeping close tabs on the situation of the 19-year-old, whose contract at Chelsea expires this summer, with a view to a permanent deal.
Taylor-Crossdale’s potential availability has alerted a number of Premier League and Championship clubs eager to take advantage of another of the club’s exciting academy products.
He has been a prolific scorer through Chelsea’s age groups and represented England from Under-16s level to the Under-20s.
Taylor-Crossdale has netted 35 goals from 52 matches for the west Londoners’ Under-18s and also made an impression at Under-23s level, scoring seven goals in 29 games.
Villa are also expected to make a move to sign the in-demand Abraham permanently this summer if they succeed in getting promoted via the play-offs.
The 21-year-old has spearheaded the club’s promotion pursuit with 25 goals from 37 Championship appearances.
In other Aston Villa news, the club’s coaching staff have told one of their defenders to find a new club.