Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has said £18m summer signing Jaden Vjelogen could leave on loan because the winger's “adaptation is going slower than we wanted”.
The Villains' academy product Velujin returned to the club on a five-year contract in July after impressing during a season at Hull City, who signed him for an undisclosed fee in September 2023.
The 22-year-old has not started a Premier League match in nearly three months and has not featured in Villa's last four matches.
🗣️ Unai: “We start the new year focusing on our match against Leicester, starting at Villa Park. We had a very good year, but we are trying to separate last year from last season and this season.” pic.twitter.com/1zHjrQ9iSz
– Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 3, 2025
Philogene: Villa “believes in its potential”
“He did not show his potential in the first six months he was with us, due to various circumstances,” Emery said. Birmingham Live.
“He played some important games (in the starting lineup) against Bayern Munich (in the Champions League on October 2) and Manchester United (in the league four days later).
“In that moment, he had the opportunity to show how far he had come. He didn't do it clearly and was playing less, but I believe in his potential.”
President in 2025: “It is a challenge and our challenge is also to try to improve and increase our level, our demands and our standards in everything.” pic.twitter.com/5jwUAgT1kU
– Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 3, 2025
Philogen transfer: loan is “one option”
Villa have struck a deal with Hull to have the option to match any bids for Philogene, equivalent to a bid from Ipswich Town and leaving the player to decide which option to pursue.
They secured around £5m after he joined them as part of a 30% sell-on clause, and Ipswich are likely to be one of the clubs tracking Philojen's availability.
“(Loan) is one of the options for him and the club because there are a lot of clubs interested in him,” Emery said. “They believe in his potential.
He added: “We are not close (to agreeing on a loan) and as a coach I do not really want to let him leave, but we are talking about different options.”
“My conversation has always been to be patient, to take time to improve things. The adaptation is going slower than we wanted, but the goal (for him) is still to improve and help us here. Now we are in January, and it may be an option for him and the team to let him go.”
Ipswich Town are interested in Aston Villa striker Jaden Villogen and are monitoring his situation. Ipswich have agreed a deal with Hull City to sign him in the summer only for Villa to trigger a matching clause. Philojean has started 4 matches in all competitions this season. #International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation #AVFC
– Dharmesh Sheth (@skysports_sheth) January 2, 2025
Villa vs Leicester
Philojean and centre-back Diego Carlos will miss Leicester City's Premier League visit on Saturday (3pm GMT) due to minor injuries.
Defender Pau Torres is expected to be sidelined for almost two months after fracturing a metatarsal in his foot, while midfielder Morgan Rogers and striker John Doran will be suspended until the trip to Everton on January 15 (7.30pm kick-off).
Ninth-placed Villa have not lost in nine home league matches, although their three-game winning streak at Villa Park ended in a 2-2 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday.
