Rowe in demand after impressing in France
[Getty Images] Aston Villa's Triston Rowe is attracting interest from Europe after a successful season in France. The 19-year-old defender has been on loan at FC Annecy for his first taste of senior football. Sources have told BBC Sport Rowe's performances have generated interest from across Europe for next season, with a return to France possible.
He could go out on loan again but Villa will assess him in the summer before making any final decision. There remains potential he could stay at Villa to put pressure on current right-back Matty Cash, with a first-team place under Unai Emery one of Rowe's goals. The youngster opted to go to France over going on loan to the EFL last summer to take himself out of his comfort zone.
V Sports, Villa's ownership group, has been in talks with Annecy over taking a 30% stake in the club and are expected to continue to send players to them on loan next season, with Rowe the first deal between the clubs. He has played 22 times, scoring once, - appearing in 83% of the minutes for Annecy this term as they sit ninth in Ligue 2, seven points adrift of the play-offs. The England Under-20 international's form earned him a nomination for Ligue 2 player of the month for February.
Rowe joined Villa as a 14-year-old, having started at West Bromwich Albion's academy. He was part of the youth team which won the Under-18 Premier League South title, FA Youth Cup and the Under-18 Premier League final last season.