Aston Villa have reportedly agreed with Sheffield United to re-sign Cameron Archer in the summer, should the Blades be relegated to the Championship.
The 22-year-old made the switch from Villa Park to Bramall Lane ahead of the 2023-24 season, in a deal worth £18m for the Englishman.
Archer enjoyed a productive loan spell at Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough last term, netting 11 Championship goals in 22 appearances as the Teesside club reached the playoffs.
Featuring in 22 Premier League matches for the Blades so far this campaign, the England Under-21 international has bagged four top-flight goals for the strugglers.
According to Birmingham Mail, Aston Villa and Sheffield United have a deal in place which would see the former re-sign Archer if the Blades do not avoid the drop.
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The report claims that the Villans and Chris Wilder's men have already shaken hands on a transfer fee, which is understood to be significantly less than the £18m that United spent in the summer.
Despite a much-needed 3-1 success over relegation rivals Luton Town on Saturday afternoon, the Blades remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League standings, seven points from safety.
Archer started his first top-flight match this weekend since the reverse fixture against Rob Edwards's Hatters at Bramall Lane on Boxing Day, opening the scoring in the 30th minute.
After playing a key part under former boss Paul Heckingbottom, the arrival of new manager Wilder and January signing Ben Brereton Diaz has led to the 22-year-old falling down the pecking order in Yorkshire.
Scans on the Chile international earlier this week revealed a hamstring injury, with the former Blackburn Rovers man missing the victory at Luton as a result.
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As well as Blades poacher Archer, Unai Emery's side also have buy-back clauses on Aaron Ramsey and Jaden Philogene, who moved to Burnley and Hull City respectively in the summer.
A mixture of form and injury issues have limited Ramsey to just four Premier League starts this term under Vincent Kompany, although the 21-year-old managed 81 minutes in the loss at Liverpool on Saturday afternoon.
Winger Philogene has recently returned from a knee injury for Liam Rosenior's Tigers, with many of a Hull City persuasion mooting the attacker as one of the best players in the Championship.
With the extent of Brereton Diaz's injury yet to be confirmed by Wilder, Archer could start back-to-back Premier League matches as Sheffield United host Brighton & Hove Albion next Sunday.
Carter White
