Aston Villa are leading the way to sign Rangers forward Rory Wilson, according to The Daily Record.

The Lowdown: Academy signings

Villa have been hard at work over the last 12 months when it comes to bolstering their academy ranks at Bodymoor Heath.

Kerr Smith, Finley Thorndike, Finn Azaz, Caleb Chukwuemeka, Declan Frith and Tim Iroegbunam have all made the move to Villa in the last 12 months.

Iroegbunam has already made the step up to Steven Gerrard’s first-team plans after signing a new deal in March and made a first Premier League start against Norwich on the weekend.

The Latest: Wilson update

The Daily Record shared a story on Monday lunchtime regarding Wilson, who looks set to sign a six-figure deal with Adidas.

They claimed that Villa are leading the chase for the forward, who has recently signed with well-known agency CAA Base and is set to leave Ibrox this summer.

The Verdict: Gerrard gets his way

Reports have suggested that Gerrard wanted Villa to pip Liverpool in the race for Wilson’s services, so it looks as if the boss will get his way.

Wilson, labelled as ‘clinical’ by Brian McLaughlin, appears to be a star of the future after scoring more than 40 goals this season.

The 16-year-old is also regarded as one of the best young players in the United Kingdom, so a move to the Midlands should be viewed as an exciting one as Villa continue to build for the future alongside backing Gerrard with senior signings.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano drops big transfer news regarding 'outstanding' Aston Villa starlet. Find out more here!