Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is not short of problems this summer despite Champions League qualification last season.
Aston Villa enjoyed a remarkable season as they finished in the Premier League top four alongside a run to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.
However, the necessary sales this summer to comply with Premier League spending rules have taken the shine off the achievement slightly, particularly with key player Douglas Luiz’ imminent exit to Juventus.
Villa have also had to sanction the sales of two academy talents in Tim Iroegbunam to Everton and Omari Kellyman to Chelsea, signing Lewis Dobbin and Ian Maatsen in return.
Now, a problem the club had hoped they had already resolved has re-emerged as a player’s loan club will not be making the deal permanent.
Leander Dendoncker set to return to Aston Villa
Leander Dendoncker was signed by Steven Gerrard in the summer of 2022 for a fee of £13 million.
The deal to bring the Belgium international to Villa Park from Wolves seemed a solid if unremarkable signing, but it has not worked out for Dendoncker.
Gerrard was sacked just two months after Dendoncker’s arrival and it quickly became clear that he would not be a part of Unai Emery‘s long-term plans.
After just one Premier League start in the first half of last season, Dendoncker was sent to Napoli on loan in January with an option to buy for £8 million this summer.
However, after just three appearances for the Serie A side, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Napoli will not take up their option to make the deal permanent and Denconcker will return to Villa.
Dendoncker’s return an unwanted problem for Unai Emery
Given Villa’s PSR woes, Denconcker’s return is an unwanted one for Emery and Villa.
Having thought they had manufactured the 29-year-old’s £8 million exit, they now must try and flog a player whose value will have undoubtedly dropped in a summer in which they want to now focus on improving the squad.
With Villa expected to have successfully navigated the PSR deadline of 30th June due to the work they have done in the transfer market, they want to look ahead.
Instead, they will have to deal with a hangover of Gerrard’s time in charge and will likely have to sell Dendoncker for a significant loss on the £13 million they spent less than two years ago.
The post Unai Emery faced with new £13m Aston Villa problem after Fabrizio Romano transfer update appeared first on Aston Villa News.
