How West Brom problem continues after what Luka Lynch did at Aston Villa
West Bromwich Albion will be watching Luka Lynch at Aston Villa with gritted teeth this summer.
The Baggies have regularly lost their best talent to the claret and blue outfit over the years.
Even a former academy prospect in Morgan Rogers has gone on to thrive at Villa Park.
That has become a great source of frustration for many at The Hawthorns, especially as their side slide down the Championship.
Although the passage from B71 to B6 seems to be slowing, former Albion youngsters continue to crop up for the Villans.
Lynch is the latest and is catching the eye after a blockbuster start to pre-season.
Luka Lynch as been Aston Villa's star man in pre-season
Summer preparations often throw up surprise names who are suddenly thrown into the limelight.
That has been the case for Jimmy Jay-Morgan for the Baggies this summer after a superb start to Albion life.
Meanwhile across the Midlands, Lynch has surprisingly stood out under Unai Emery.
The 19-year-old has scored two in as many pre-season games, first against Walsall and a second away to Porto.
The Englishman's crowning moment was the latter as he curled home a wonder goal at Estadio do Dragao.
From just inside the penalty area, he curled a rasping strike into the far corner, leaving Claudio Ramos with no chance.
That has sparked many Villa fans to look into the forward more closely and the Baggies faithful will be gutted to let them know that he used to be one of their own.
Who is ex-West Brom youngster Luka Lynch?
West Brom News covered Lynch's move from The Hawthorns to Aston Villa in March 2022.
The attacker was thriving for the Baggies' under-16 side and had even been named on the bench for the U18s.
That prompted the Villans to replicate their moves for the likes of Triston Rowe, Finley Thorndike, Tim Iroegbunam and Finn Azaz to bring in Lynch.
The forward has had a professional deal at Bodymoor Heath since 2023 after playing a key role in the U18s side.
The 2007-born talent has since thrived in the Premier League 2 with six goal involvements in just 11 outings.
That has clearly caught the eye of Emery and Co. and has given him the chance to thrive in the first-team in the early stages of pre-season.
All that contributes to further frustration for West Brom as they look at yet another youngster who moved to Aston Villa and is looking like a real asset for the future.