Aston Villa and Leeds United have reportedly opened talks to secure the signing of West Ham United striker Sonny Perkins in the summer.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Aston Villa and Leeds United have initiated negotiations over the potential signing of 18-year-old West Ham United attacking prospect Sonny Perkins.
The teenage centre-forward started at the Leyton Orient youth setup before joining the West Ham United academy in January 2019. He has steadily progressed through the ranks and has made 31 appearances for the club’s Under-18 setup, scoring nine goals. Perkins also has netted ten goals in 28 matches for the Hammers’ Under-23 side.
Perkins made his first-team debut for the London club in November last year and has since made three appearances but is yet to score a goal or set up an assist. A promising prospect, the 18-year-old is starting to attract interest from clubs in England, with Leeds United showing a liking towards the youngster, along with Aston Villa.
Leeds United have a dearth of natural centre-forwards in their ranks, and it hurt their chances in the last season as Patrick Bamford spent the majority of the campaign out injured. Daniel James offers industry at the top but is not a natural No. 9. Joe Gelhardt has shown promise and could be set for a bigger role this term, while Sam Greenwood could be promoted to the first-team setup.
Perkins could then be viewed as a replacement for Greenwood at the Under-23 level, although given manager Jesse Marsch’s propensity to back youngsters, the 18-year-old could be thrust into the senior team right away.
Aston Villa, too, have entered the picture to sign Perkins in the summer. While Steven Gerrard has been adding proven players to his roster this summer, there is also a focus on strengthening the youth ranks and adding to the exciting crop of prospects coming through the ranks at the club.
Perkins, to that end, has emerged as a target for Aston Villa, and along with Leeds United, they have initiated talks to explore the possibility of signing the 18-year-old striker. Whether West Ham United can convince him to extend Perkins’ contract beyond the end of the month remains to be seen, considering that they are in need of a new centre-forward to provide cover for Michail Antonio.
