Several Championship clubs monitored Cameron Archer's progress at Aston Villa during the summer, as per a report from the Daily Mail. 

The 19-year-old netted a hat-trick during Villa's 6-0 thrashing of Barrow in the Carabao Cup, putting a number of second-tier clubs on red alert. 

However, a deal for the young forward never came to fruition, who has since gone on to make his Premier League debut for the Midlands club.

Archer already has four goals to his name this season, with four coming in the Carabao Cup, two in Premier League 2, and another one in the EFL Trophy.

Kevin Phillips, who spoke about how impressed has been with Archer's progression at Villa during an interview with Football Insider, believes that Dean Smith should keep him close to the club's first-team environment past January: “It was great to see a young kid given an opportunity away at Chelsea and he took it. He could have scored a couple. He looks a very lively and exciting player. 

“It is one of those now, do you send him out on loan? He has certainly put himself in the shop window for other clubs who might need a striker in January. 

“Game time is going to be difficult with Watkins and Ings there. For his development going out on loan might be a really sensible move.

“I’m not sure if Villa will though because what if Ings and Watkins get injured? They have both had their injury problems and the last thing Dean Smith wants to do is leave himself short. 

“I don’t expect him to go out in January. I think they’ll wait until next season.”

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The verdict 

Archer is a very exciting, young player who can go on to enjoy a very successful career with Villa, and you can see why the Premier League side would keep him close.

However, if there are several Championship clubs in pursuit, then there will likely be a suitor who can promise regular first-team minutes - something that will improve him as a player both technically and mentally. 

Several sides in the second-tier are struggling to score goals this season, and adding Archer to their respective forward lines would be a good move, not only for the club themselves but for Villa and Archer too.