COWLEY’S BEST YOUNG HOPES
Boss has two promising stars on radar as transfer window looms
DANNY COWLEY has given a ringing endorsement of two of the bright, young hopes he’s keeping tabs on as his January player hunt intensified.
The Blues have undertaken a frenetic period of scouting as their recruitment work continues ahead of the window opening next month.
Cowley watched Aston Villa under-21s face Charlton in the Papa John’s Trophy, where goal machine Cameron Archer was on display.
Archer, who is out of contract next summer, has bagged 10 goals this term in the competition and the Carabao Cup, to mark the 19-year-old as one of the
game’s bright, young attacking hopes.
The game was one of a swathe of fixtures taken in by Pompey’s staff this week in the Papa John’s Trophy,
as well as clashes in Scotland andIreland.
Another of those matches was Arsenal under-21’s penalty shootout win over Ipswich on Wednesday night at Portman Road.
Cowley has previously watched the young Gunners in person at Bournemouth this term, with defender Omar Rekik one of their most promising talents on display on both occasions.
The Pompey boss sees both men as emerging players with big futures.
He said: ‘He (Archer) is going to be a good player.
‘He’s a small, diminutive player who uses his body well and has very good movement with sharp pick-up and acceleration.
‘(Carney) Chukwuemeka came on for the first team this week, too.
‘Villa have good players, good attacking players.
‘We watched Arsenal play Ipswich and they played very well.
‘They were 2-0 down and came back to win on penalties.
‘Omar is a centre-half who I watched at Bournemouth a few weeks ago.
‘He’s technically very good with a lovely range of passing and he breaks his lines taking real responsibility on the ball. He looks a talented player.’
A centre-back and striker remain priorities for Pompey next month, with a lack of depth at the back and players in form at the other end of the pitch.
The loan market will be an avenue for Cowley to utilise, although he will
likely have to reduce the five
loan players he currently has at the club - Miguel Azeez, Gassan Ahadme, George Hirst, Mahlon Romeo and Gavin Bazunu.
Cowley added ‘Where we are as a club, our strategy is to use the loan market to make the team better. That’s your ambition.
‘You need a balanced squad, so it’s young players onthewayupandeventually we’re signing young players onthewayup.
‘With loans, you’re signing players who will make you better or players, potentially, somewhere along the line you
will be able to sing permanently. That’s another good strategy with loan players.
‘The tried and tested ones are really important, too, because if you sign enough who are on the way up and
understand the level at 23, 24 or 25, they are worth their weight in gold.