How much Huddersfield Town or Portsmouth will need to pay to sign Aston Villa player | OneFootball

Oxford United, Huddersfield Town, and Portsmouth have learnt what they will need to pay to sign Aston Villa player Tommi O'Reilly...

Huddersfield Town will be a League One club next season and Portsmouth a Championship side, irrespective of what happens on the final day of the EFL season.

Both clubs will be looking to improve next season, with Portsmouth fighting relegation until a late surge in form. Huddersfield Town, meanwhile, have now spent the last two years in the third tier and cannot miss out on at least a play-off place again next season.

The EFL can be unforgiving but one way to ensure your future remains bright is to sign younger players before developing them and then selling on for a profit. Either that or they could become a key part of your team for years to come and be worth far more than whatever transfer fee was initially paid.

Pompey have been excellent at this in recent years, with Adrian Segecic underlining their functioning recruitment model in recent weeks. However, they won't be sitting still this summer and will be eyeing more players under 25 to improve under John Mousinho.

How much Oxford, Portsmouth, or Huddersfield must pay for Tommi O'Reilly

It's already been reported that Portsmouth and Oxford United have eyes on Aston Villa's Tommi O'Reilly this summer. The 22-year-old had an unproductive loan in League One with Shrewsbury Town not long ago, but is now in League Two instead.

He had a loan with MK Dons in League Two last season, scoring once in 16 matches. But it's been with Crewe Alexandra in 2025/26 where he has truly shone. In 49 appearances in all competitions, O'Reilly has seven goals and 14 assists this term.

The attacking midfielder or winger is sure to be of interest higher up the pyramid again, with Huddersfield now interested alongside Portsmouth and Oxford. Per The Daily Mail, Villa are understood to be open to selling the playmaker this summer.

The report states that they are seeking around £1 million as they look to raise funds to channel back into Unai Emery's squad. They add that they will consider offers from "the likes of Huddersfield and Oxford" as interest continues to build.

Not only has he caught the eye at club level, though. It's stated that O'Reilly is also being monitored by the Republic of Ireland following his impressive campaign with Crewe as well.

Tommi O'Reilly makes enormous sense for Huddersfield Town

This is not so much an issue for an Oxford side with some younger players or some players clearly good enough for the Championship, but Huddersfield's current recruitment approach carries a clear short-term logic.

However, it is not without risk. Predominantly targeting players aged between 25 and 30 who are proven at the top end of League One should, in theory, provide the quality needed to push for promotion. However, it leans heavily towards immediate gain and not players they can carry through.

If promotion had been achieved this term, there was no guarantee that this core group can step up to Championship level, which could leave the club facing another rebuild sooner than expected. Some Huddersfield signings, like Bali Mumba, have been more sensible in that sense.

Mumba and O'Reilly are examples of the more balanced strategy which may be required. Integrating younger players who are still developing offers greater long-term value, both in terms of progression and potential resale.

These are players who can grow with the club and reach their peak years as Huddersfield aim to re-establish themselves in the Championship. It's a signing which makes sense for the three clubs but Huddersfield more than Oxford and Oxford more than Pompey.