Aston Villa face big £10m striker call: Burnley, Sheffield United & Wrexham must be lurking | OneFootball

Burnley, Sheffield United and Wrexham must be on alert if Aston Villa decide to let exciting youngster Brian Madjo leave on loan in this window.

Aston Villa sealed a deal for highly-rated striker Brian Madjo in January, but complications involving the deal meant he couldn’t be registered initially.

That meant £10m recruit Madjo couldn’t play any games, but an ongoing court battle, that resulted in an appeal to CAS, has upheld that appeal, so the 17-year-old is eligible to play in the 2026/27 season.

Obviously, that will be a major relief for all connected to Villa, as they have very high hopes for the former Metz man, who has also impressed for Unai Emery’s men in pre-season, scoring three goals in four games.

Therefore, many Villa fans are hoping to see Madjo play a part this season, but it remains to be seen whether that is a realistic possibility.

Despite his obvious talent, with Ollie Watkins and Tammy Abraham at the club, and the possibility of a new number nine coming through the door, Madjo may not get the game time he wants.

Of course, Villa will manage the youngster carefully, but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if they decided a loan move was best for Madjo’s development, even if it was only until January, when he could be recalled to play a part for the Midlands outfit moving forward.

Given his potential, most clubs in the Championship would jump at the chance to take the player, but here we look at THREE clubs who should be pursuing Madjo if the opportunity arises...

Burnley

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Right now, Burnley aren’t in desperate need of a new striker, but the situation could change rapidly, as there are doubts about the future of several players, including Armando Broja and Zian Flemming.

So, you can be sure that the recruitment team at Turf Moor are keeping tabs on strikers, and Madjo would be an exciting addition.

Firstly, Nicky Hayen’s reputation for developing youngsters would make him the perfect fit, as he has a great track record in that department, which Villa will be aware of.

Then, Madjo has the qualities that Burnley will want from their main man up top, especially if the likes of Flemming and Broja leave, as despite his age, he brings real physicality.

That could make him the ideal focal point, and you would back Burnley to create chances for the youngster, so it could be the ideal place for him to kick-on and show his class.

Sheffield United

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Sheffield United aren’t in a position to spend huge sums this summer, so Chris Wilder will be looking at the loan market to strengthen his squad.

Like many clubs at this level, the Blades will probably feel they are one quality striker short, with Tom Cannon failing to impress so far at Bramall Lane and Tyrese Campbell being inconsistent, so it would make sense to look for exciting Premier League youngsters like Madjo.

Again, his physicality means he should be ideal for hitting the ground running, and Wilder is another manager who could do a lot for the player in terms of helping his development.

If Villa do sanction a loan, then finding a club where Madjo will play week in, week out will be the priority, and that should be the case at Bramall Lane. So, it could be the sort of move that suits all parties, and it would give Sheffield United a major boost after a slow window so far.

Wrexham

Following on from that, with Madjo’s physicality one of his standout attributes, it would make sense to send him to a club that could utilise those strengths.

Under Phil Parkinson, Wrexham have been incredibly successful over the years, and that has been built on a direct style. That’s not to say they only ever go long, but they get the ball forward quickly, and the wing-backs are always looking to serve the strikers with quality crosses.

For Madjo, who is emerging as an excellent penalty box striker, that could be exactly what he needs to get goals on a regular basis - especially as Kieffer Moore is getting no younger.

As well as that, the number of options Wrexham have in the final third means they wouldn’t be reliant on Madjo, and they could use him carefully, as whilst he is seen as a top talent, it’s important to remember how young the striker is, and that he is just starting out in his professional career.