By Daniel Feliciano

20th Mar, 2022 | 12:00pm

Aston Villa: Carney Chukwuemeka should leave this summer to spread wings and blossom

It’s safe to say that one of the brightest talents to come out of the Aston Villa academy in recent years is young midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka.

After Jack Grealish’s £100m sale to Manchester City last summer, many saw it as the opportunity for the club to find a new hero from the academy to come through and make his mark on the first-team.

The player to step up and be given that opportunity however has been Jacob Ramsey, who has become a mainstay in Steven Gerrard’s midfield and is now in the eye-line of England boss Gareth Southgate for a potential call-up to the senior national team.

But as one comes through the door, it seems as though another will be on his way out as Chukwuemeka’s contract is set to expire in the summer of 2023.

It’s not without trying though. Gerrard has made his wishes for the 18-year-old to sign a new deal public, while the club reportedly remain in talks to get him to commit his future to Villa Park.

But considering the aspirations of Aston Villa right now, plus their reported plans for the summer it seems as though a move away from the club where he made his name could be a better move for him in the long-term.

As it stands he has made 11 appearances for the Villains this season, but nine of those have come via the substitutes bench and from nine Premier League appearances he’s mustered just 188 minutes of action. That’s not enough for someone who is looking to develop their game and continue to improve.

There is an element of patience required, sure, but with Villa planning to strengthen their squad further this summer it’s likely he would be moving in the wrong direction in the pecking order if he stayed.

Committing himself to a new deal would potentially see his career stagnate and he could miss out on big opportunities. A loan deal would obviously be a win-win for all, but there are no guarantees that Chukwuemeka breaks into the side after that either.

If he wants to develop and become the best he can be, he should go and find regular football elsewhere.

If Villa are smart, they sell this summer and include a buy-back option that’s worth their time so they can continue to monitor his progress. That way everyone wins and it’s on the player to perform wherever he ends up, and there’ll be nobody else to blame.

In other Football Wonderkids news, Crystal Palace: Marc Guehi can take his place as England regular after earning call up