Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has said that £18million summer signing Jaden Filogenis could leave on loan because the winger’s adjustment is going slower than we would like.
Villans academy product Philogene returned to the club on a five-year deal in July after impressing during one season at Hull City, who signed him for an undisclosed fee in September 2023.
The 22-year-old has not started a Premier League game for nearly three months and has not featured in Villa’s last four matches.
🗣️ Unai: “We start the new year focused on our match against Leicester, starting at home at Villa Park. We had a really good year, but we were trying to separate last year, last year and this season.” pic.twitter.com/1zHjrQ9iSz
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 3, 2025
Philogene: Villa “believes in potential”
“He didn’t show his potential in the first six months he was with us, for different circumstances,” Emery said, via Birmingham Live.
“He played some important matches (starting) against Bayern Munich (in the Champions League on October 2) and Manchester United (in the league four days later).
“At that moment, he had the opportunity to show his progress. He didn’t do it clearly and (has) played less, but I believe in his potential.”
The Boss on 2025: “It’s a challenge and our challenge is also to try to improve, to raise our level, requirements and standards in everything.” pic.twitter.com/5jwUAgT1kU
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 3, 2025
Philogene Transcription: Borrowing “one option”
Villa struck a deal with Hull to have the option to match any bids for Filogenis, matching an offer from Ipswich Town and leaving the player to decide which option to pursue.
They received around £5m back after he joined them as part of a 30% sell-on clause and Ipswich are likely to be one of the clubs monitoring Philogene’s availability.
“(The loanee) is an option for him and the club because there are many clubs interested in him,” Emery said. “They believe in his potential.
“We are not close (to agreeing a loan) and as a manager I don’t really want to let him go, but we are talking about different options.
“My talk has always been to be patient, take time to improve things. The adaptation is going slower than we wanted, but again, in my opinion, the goal is (for him) to improve and help us here. Now it’s January, it could be an option for him and the team to let him go.”
Ipswich Town are interested in Aston Villa striker Jaden Philogene and are monitoring his situation. Ipswich agreed with Hull City to sign him in the summer only for Villa to trigger a matching clause. Filogenis has started 4 games in all competitions this season. #ITFC #AVFC
— Dharmesh Sheth (@skysports_sheth) January 2, 2025
Villa vs Leicester
Filogenis and centre-back Diego Carlos will miss Leicester City’s Premier League visit on Saturday (15:00 GMT) with minor injuries.
Defender Pau Torres is expected to be out for around two months after breaking the metatarsal in his foot, while midfielder Morgan Rodgers and striker John Duran are suspended until the trip to Everton on January 15 (7.30pm).
Ninth-placed Villa are unbeaten in nine home league games, although their three-match winning streak at Villa Park ended with a 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday.
