Aston Villa set price tag for Arsenal and Man Utd target amid increased speculation

Joe Williams
Aston Villa midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka celebrates scoring a goal

Aston Villa have placed a £20m price tag on Carney Chukwuemeka amid speculation that Arsenal and Man Utd have joined the race for his signature, according to reports.

The 19-year-old, who was born in Austria, has played 19 senior matches in his career after coming through the youth ranks at Villa Park.

Chukwuemeka started two of his 11 appearances in the Premier League last season before starring for England under-19s at the European Championship this summer.


From Serge Gnabry to Declan Rice: The Premier League academy players who got away


The Aston Villa youngster was named in the Team of the Tournament as the young Three Lions side won the competition in Slovakia.

Those performances have put him on the radar of a number of clubs this summer with Arsenal, Man Utd, Newcastle, Man City, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Barcelona all reportedly interested.

And now talkSPORT claim that Aston Villa have ‘put a £20million price tag’ on him with the English youngster out of contract in a year’s time.

In January he would have the chance to sort a pre-contract agreement with a club from abroad if Villa don’t tie him down to a new deal soon.

And Villa manager Steven Gerrard has revealed that he left Chukwuemeka out of the pre-season tour squad because his current situation.

Gerrard said: “Carney’s yet to sign a contract offer that’s been in place for some time now, so I’ve decided that the best thing for him would be to continue his training programme back at Bodymoor.”

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claimed earlier this week that Barcelona were showing “serious interest” in Chukwuemeka and former Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor thinks it could be a “dangerous” move for the youngster.

When asked if he could have his head turned by interest from Barcelona, Agbonlahor told Football Insider: “He could do. Sometimes, at his age now, that could be a dangerous move.

“Barcelona are renowned for bringing in quality players through their youth team. They have started to bring in better players too, Aubameyang’s signed, Dembele’s signing on and they are after Raphinha.

“It’s a very dangerous one but it’s hard to turn down a move to Barcelona at that age.

“Aston Villa won’t be held to ransom for a wage that they don’t feel he deserves yet. In the future, he probably will deserve what he’s asking for but Villa are probably thinking ‘You haven’t earned that yet so we can’t be held to ransom’.”