Aston Villa will consider loaning out exciting 18-year-old Aaron Ramsey in January, according to The Athletic's Gregg Evans. 

The lowdown

Two developments this week underlined Ramsey's potential. First, he was nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for August, having netted two goals in their first three matches (via avfc.co.uk).

He has now been directly involved in 18 goals (scoring 12 and setting up six) in just 24 appearances for Mark Delaney's youth side (via Transfermarkt).

He then earned a call-up to the England under-21 squad, jumping up from the under-19s following injuries to Liverpool's Harvey Elliott and Tottenham Hotspur's Ryan Sessegnon.

The latest

According to Evans for The Athletic, Villa thought about loaning Ramsey out during the summer window, but with some 'key senior players' either injured or ill, they decided against such a move. However, the possibility is expected to be revisited during the next transfer window.

Villa are 'carefully mapping out a pathway' to the first team for the attacking midfielder, who has been 'highly thought of for years'.

The verdict

Ramsey is a serious talent, and his record at under-23 level suggests that he's more than ready to make the step-up to the men's game.

You'd imagine that he'll be sent to the Championship, but it's about finding the right team, the right manager and the right style of play to ensure that it's a productive loan spell.

Look at Elliott, whose injury led to Ramsey's England promotion. He has now made his breakthrough at Liverpool after a move to Blackburn Rovers last season proved to be a perfect fit, making 18 goal contributions in 42 appearances at Ewood Park. His is an obvious case study for the Villa starlet to try and emulate if he is loaned out in the winter.

In other news, many Villa fans were left fuming by this news.