{{primary_category}}
{{/primary_category}} 
Aston Villa kick in the teeth as multi-million Leander Dendoncker loss on the cards amid £8.5m reveal
We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…
Alan Hutton can understand why Aston Villa would be willing to take a loss on Leander Dendoncker if they sell the midfielder this summer.
Dendoncker, 28, joined Villa from Wolves in a deal worth £15million last summer [Daily Mail].
However, the Belgium international struggled for regular starts at Villa Park last season, leading to Foot Mercato reporting on 6 July that the Villans are willing to listen to offers between £8.5million and £10.2million for him.
If Villa were to sell Dendoncker at the lower end of that scale, they would make a £6.5million loss on the ex-Wolves midfielder.
Hutton admits it’s a financial blow for his former club but suggests it’s the best thing for everyone involved going forwards if Dendoncker isn’t going to play much.
When asked if the loss on Dendoncker would be seen as a kick in the teeth, Hutton told Villa News: “Yes, of course, it is.
“You don’t want to lose money but they are in a situation where they can afford to if needs be if you want people out of the door and to bring in your own players, Youri Tielemans is obviously there now.
“There are so many people ahead of Dendoncker that sometimes you have to get somebody out.
“It kind of helps everybody involved. If you think about the player, he’ll want to leave as he’ll want first-team football. If no one’s willing to pay what you want for him, you’re kind of killing him a bit as well.
“Sometimes it can be a good thing for a club to take that little bit of a hit to get somebody out.
“Dendoncker came on towards the end of the season but he was never going to be a regular in my opinion. The opportunity to go out and play suits everybody.”
Dendoncker played 20 times in the Premier League last season for Aston Villa but 13 of those appearances were as a substitute.
He only played three minutes of the final four games of the season.
In other Aston Villa news, the latest on Brennan Johnson’s future will cause concerns at Nottingham Forest as the “excellent” forward is linked with the Villans.