Aston Villa youngster Bradley Burrowes is undergoing a medical with Wigan Athletic after the League One club agreed a season-long loan for the highly-rated winger.
The 18-year-old is now closing in on a temporary Villa Park exit despite spending much of the summer around Unai Emery’s senior squad.
Jacob Tanswell first reported that Burrowes was expected to join Wigan, although an agreement had not been finalised at that stage.
That situation has now progressed, with Pete O’Rourke reporting that Wigan have agreed a deal with Aston Villa and Burrowes is undergoing his medical ahead of a season-long loan.
Read Pete O’Rourke’s report on the Burrowes medical
Bradley Burrowes set for Aston Villa loan exit
A temporary departure has been under consideration for some time.
Back in July, ReadAstonVilla reported that Villa were prepared to assess loan opportunities for Burrowes and George Hemmings, while retaining both players rather than considering permanent exits.
Burrowes’ development since then has kept him close to Emery’s first-team plans.
He featured throughout pre-season and was named among the substitutes for Villa’s opening games against Paris Saint-Germain and Brighton.
The England youth international already has Premier League experience after making his senior debut at 17.
His academy numbers also underline why Villa have been reluctant to lose control of his future.
O’Rourke reports that Burrowes scored 18 goals in 22 youth appearances last season, including 12 in Premier League 2, and that Wigan have beaten competition from Championship and League One clubs for his signature.
Villa also demonstrated their long-term belief in Burrowes when he signed a new contract at Villa Park in March.
Wigan move offers Burrowes senior opportunity
The move should provide a significant change in Burrowes’ development programme.
Villa’s youngsters actually faced Wigan in the EFL Trophy earlier this month, with ReadAstonVilla highlighting Burrowes as one of several academy players pushing towards Emery’s senior squad.
Regular League One football would now give Villa a better opportunity to judge whether he can translate his attacking output at academy level into the senior game.
Importantly, there is no suggestion Villa are willing to sell the teenager.
The expected season-long loan instead follows the club’s established approach of giving its leading prospects first-team experience while retaining control over their longer-term futures.
Josh Feeney has already completed his own temporary departure to Peterborough United, and Burrowes now looks set to become the latest Villa youngster to head into the EFL.
Providing the medical is completed without issue, Wigan should offer him something difficult to guarantee at Villa Park this season: regular senior minutes.
