January Aston Villa exit may now be off the cards for Leander Dendoncker after Unai Emery comments
Financial fair play restrictions have ensured that this will not be a month of immense change at Aston Villa as Unai Emery looks to balance his squad for the second half of the season.
Like all clubs in the Premier League, Villa have suggested that they could be open to business if the right opportunity presents itself and is doable in the January transfer window, but they won’t be throwing money around recklessly.
Perhaps the bigger job for Emery to carry out this month is sorting out the potential outgoings in his side as he allows those not required to move away from Villa Park in an attempt to raise some much-needed funds.
Two players have already been told by the Aston Villa boss that they can leave this month, with Calum Chambers and Bertrand Traore being deemed surplus to requirements ahead of the second half of the campaign [Jacob Tanswell, 12 January].
One name that most would have expected to see on that list earlier in the season would have been Leander Dendoncker, with most Aston Villa fans anticipating that the Belgian midfielder would be sold in January after a quiet start to the season.
Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri [15 November] even reported earlier this season that the midfielder was no longer in Emery’s plans at Villa Park and was expected to find a solution during the January transfer window.
However, the 28-year-old recent performances have ensured that he won’t be going anywhere this month. Against Manchester United on Boxing Day, Dendoncker completed 89 per cent of 35 attempted passes and scored with his only attempt on goal [Fotmob].
The Aston Villa midfielder also showcased his excellent range of passing as well, finding a teammate with 75 per cent of his long-range efforts and even picking out one of the forward line, in the final third.
Off the ball, the Belgian was similarly impressive, winning five of his six ground duels and two of his three battles in the air, leaving him with an overall win rate of 77.8 per cent, much better than Douglas Luiz’s zero per cent display at Old Trafford.
That performance was a great example of just how willing the 28-year-old is to get stuck into a battle in the middle of the park and more often than not, he comes out on top. Villa regained possession from 75 per cent of Dendoncker’s tackles and he even managed two interceptions.
In the FA Cup third-round clash, he was once again excellent on the ball, finding a teammate in white with 92 per cent of 39 attempted passes, three of which were into the final third.
Off the ball, the Belgian was up to the challenge of the greater physicality that Championship opposition poses, winning 100 per cent of tackles and aerial duels, while also coming away with possession from two battles on the ground.
In Aston Villa’s last three matches, Dendoncker has played more minutes than he had done in the entirety of Villa’s Premier League campaign up until Boxing Day. He may not be the perfect midfielder, but he certainly has a part to play in this side from now until the end of the season.
Despite plenty of links and suggestions otherwise, it feels as though Dendoncker will be an Aston Villa player until the end of the season at least.
In other Aston Villa news, Alan Hutton has told Villa News what he’s head about the transfer interest in Ronnie Edwards