Bristol City face a battle to keep hold of one of their brightest talents in Reuben McAllister this summer, with Aston Villa now also in the race to try and land him, as reported by The Sun.

The youngster has yet to break through with the Robins in the Championship and get any action but he has showcased the level of his talent and potential in their reserve sides - and that has caught the eye of teams higher up the pyramid.

Even before City fans have now been able to see him grace the first-team squad, they may have to wave him goodbye. Villa are now desperate to swoop in and try and add him to their ranks as a potential one to watch for the future, while Newcastle have also been linked.

 

 

If McAllister fancies a complete change of scenery, Celtic and Rangers in Scotland are also keeping tabs on him - and it seems as though he could therefore have his pick of where he ends up next.

It would be a surprise to see him start though at any of those clubs if he was to leave - and the 16-year-old is certainly more of a signing for the future rather than one for the here and now.

The midfielder though has shown promise for the Robins in their youth system and it looks like Villa want to try and snap him up before he gets onto the big stage and his value skyrockets. Now, they could try and poach him away this offseason - although Bristol City certainly won't want to let him go.

The Verdict

Reuben McAllister is a player that many won't be familiar with yet. In fact, even some at Bristol City might not yet know who he is.

Considering the level of interest in him though and the way in which he has shone in the Robins' youth ranks, it appears as though he has a lot of potential. Premier League clubs would not be scrambling for his signature as a 16-year-old if they didn't think he could amount to something in the future.

It could be a case of the best situation for the player then as to where he sees best to continue his development and who can offer him the best facilities and so on. It could also depend on whether City are prepared to let him go - and how much they might hold out for as part of a deal.

Villa though would certainly be tempting considering their status as a Premier League club but perhaps also because of the fact they are currently led by Steven Gerrard - arguably one of the best midfielders of the modern era.