“I’ve got to respect Unai Emery” – Ryan Lowe confirms Preston North End transfer interest in Aston Villa player | OneFootball

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Football League World

·9 December 2022

“I’ve got to respect Unai Emery” – Ryan Lowe confirms Preston North End transfer interest in Aston Villa player

Article image:“I’ve got to respect Unai Emery” – Ryan Lowe confirms Preston North End transfer interest in Aston Villa player

Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe has made Cameron Archer his number-one target should the striker become available in January.

There has been heavy speculation regarding the 20-year-old over the last six months as North End hoped to bring him back to Deepdale in the summer with Aston Villa choosing to keep him in the Midlands.


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Archer found first-team football hard to come by under Steven Gerrard this season and is yet to play over 60 minutes of football so far. With Unai Emery arriving at Villa Park as Gerrard’s assistant, it has fuelled speculation even further about his possible departure on loan.

Archer joined North End in January last season and scored seven times in 20 games, including a winner in the derby against Blackpool and became a real fans favourite.

Speaking to the Lancashire Post about the possible return of Archer to Deepdale, Lowe said: ” I don’t want to go on too much about Cam because he’s not our player, everyone knows what we think of him.

“Me as the manager, the football club, the fans, we all loved him. He was fantastic here. Everyone knows he’s our number-one choice if he becomes available. That’s all I want to say on it.

“I’ve got to respect Unai Emery and what he wants to do with Cam and the football club.”

Lowe has developed an impressive camaraderie at Preston this season with players looking at their long-term futures at the club. Liam Lindsay recently signed a new two-and-a-half-year deal, with additional contracts potentially on the horizon for other top performers.

An environment like that could be the catalyst for a young player and would no doubt play a huge part in the development of Archer.

With Preston on the cusp of the top six, a player of Archer’s quality and skillset could well be the difference between finishing within the playoffs or in midtable.

Quiz: Have any of these 25 ex-Preston North End players ever played for a London based team?

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Article image:“I’ve got to respect Unai Emery” – Ryan Lowe confirms Preston North End transfer interest in Aston Villa player

Dave Nugent

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The Verdict

Archer is an excellent prospect who needs more game time in order to develop. Looking back, it would have made sense for Aston Villa to loan him to Preston in the summer with a view to recalling him in January.

That would have been a better use of time and Preston have shown under Lowe, they can be trusted with young players on loan from Premier League clubs.

There is no point in giving Archer minutes sporadically, if he is to reach his potential he needs regular football which he will get with North End.

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