Johan Lange can redefine his vision for Aston Villa by ensuring Dean Smith utilises the “immense potential” of Lamare Bogarde, after a successful summer fighting off premier competition for the Netherlands Under 16 international.
What’s the word?
According to The Athletic, Villa were aggressive in the summer market striving to lock up the services of a string of 16-year-olds ahead of the impact Brexit will have on signing youth players.
Premier League clubs will no longer be able to sign players under the age of 18 from overseas clubs as of January 1, while only able to add three aged under 21 this winter and six per season after that.
The new framework has been introduced to help ensure the future competitiveness of the England national side post-Brexit, as the Football Association believe now presents a chance to boost the selection hopes of homegrown players.
Villa sought to get ahead of the restrictions by spending vast time scouting youth talents this year, leading to the eventual additions of Vitesse Arnhem defender Sil Swinkels, St. Patrick’s Aaron O’Reilly and Bogarde from Feyenoord.
Landing Bogarde’s signature was a considerable coop for the Birmingham-based outfit, as the defensive midfielder is now said to have been a target for top-six Premier League duo Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
Redefine Lange’s vision for AVFC
Beating Arsenal and Tottenham to Bogarde’s signature has offered Lange the chance to redefine his vision for Aston Villa by turning the claret and blue side into one future stars look positively on, knowing homegrown talents will soon carry even more importance and value.
Lange has got off to a strong start by edging premier competition for Bogarde this summer but will need to see first-team boss Smith utilise those in the academy for his vision to take place
Smith has so far only awarded 14 minutes of Premier League football to 19-year-old Jacob Ramsey, who is the only player aged under 21 to feature for the Villans in the top-flight thus far this term.
Bogarde is a player academy manager Mark Harrison lauds for his “immense potential”, and has already displayed his emerging brilliance in claret and blue with two goals and an assist in four Premier League U18 appearances before stepping up to the Under 23s.
If he can establish himself in Mark Delaney’s young side, which sits just three points off table-toppers Middlesbrough after nine PL2 fixtures, it will not be long before Bogarde is banging on Smith’s door demanding his senior debut.
AND in other news, Johan Lange and Aston Villa must bite the bullet on one-time £40k-p/w Dean Smith favourite.
The post Lamare Bogarde: Aston Villa beat Arsenal and Tottenham to midfielder’s signature first appeared on FootballFanCast.com.
