Aston Villa youngster Cameron Archer is the subject of loan interest ahead of the January transfer window, according to The Athletic's Gregg Evans

The lowdown

Archer's Villa contract had been due to expire at the end of the season, but the club confirmed on Friday that he'd penned a new four-year deal.

He's actually been sent out on loan before, spending the 2020/21 campaign at National League outfit Solihull Moors.

The Englishman has been billed as a 'sensational' talent by Birmingham Live journalist Ashley Preece.

The latest

After Archer's future was 'finally resolved', Evans tweeted that 'clubs are now looking at taking him on loan next month'.

And he's by no means the only Aston Villa youngster who could temporarily depart in the new year.

Evans says that there are clubs eyeing loan moves for Caleb Chukwuemeka, Aaron Ramsey and Jaden Philogene-Bidace too.

The verdict

Loaning out Archer would probably be a smart move for Villa.

It's clear that he's ready to compete at a senior level - he was player of the group stage in the EFL Trophy, he scored a hat-trick against Barrow in the EFL Cup and he found the net against Chelsea.

At Villa Park, Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins stand between him and first-team football.

He's already outgrown the Under-23s, and would arguably benefit more from playing regular men's football in, say, League One.

In other news, Villa have been offered a PL title-winner