The search for future signings never stops in football and Steve Bruce already has his eyes on one summer arrival from the lower leagues.
According to the Birmingham Mail, Aston Villa are eyeing a summer move for highly-rated Blackpool winger Bright Osayi-Samuel but face competition from a number of Premier League sides including Everton, Tottenham and Arsenal.
The 19-year-old winger made his first-team debut for the Tangerines when they were in the Championship back in March 2015 and despite suffering back to back relegations, Osayi-Samuel has retained his place in the first-team squad.
This season he’s been a regular, making 27 appearances in all competitions and scored his first professional goal in a 2-0 League Two win over Stevenage before scoring an extra-time winner over Barnsley in their FA Cup third round replay.
Blackpool manager Gary Bowyer has stated that he does not wish to lose any of his players but admits being in League Two and having bigger clubs interested does make things hard.
“My philosophy is simple – if people are coming to watch us, then it is a sign that we are doing something right and are helping players to progress. We have some good young players here and it does not surprise me.
“If there is a young player playing regular first-team football anywhere up or down the country, then the big boys have to do their job properly. Do I want to lose any of the players? No, but I realise we are in League Two.”
Osayi-Samuel’s contract expires at the end of the season but the club do hold an option to extend it for another year which is unlikely to put off any interested parties.
