Aston Villa signing Kosta Nedeljkovic ‘ideal’ as Fabrizio Romano drops ‘here we go’ update, medical booked
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…
Signing Kosta Nedeljkovic from Crvena Zvezda during the January transfer window will be an “absolutely ideal” piece of business for Aston Villa, according to Alan Hutton.
Unai Emery looks set to make his first signing of the January transfer window, with Fabrizio Romano reporting on Wednesday (17 January) that the 18-year-old will undergo a medical at Villa Park in the coming days before signing with Aston Villa.
Nedeljkovic will then rejoin Crvena Zvezda for the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign on loan before permanently joining up with Emery’s side ready for pre-season in the summer.
While Hutton admits that he was impressed with Matty Cash’s display in Villa’s draw with Everton on Sunday (14 January), he thinks this signing will be the perfect piece of business and will help the Polish international push on at Villa Park.
“I’ve not seen a lot of him,” Hutton told Villa News.
“But obviously the club have been scouting him, they’ve been to watch him so they understand what they’re getting. He’s a player for the future.
“I think it’s a position where they need somebody to come in. Cash did really well at the start, it seems like Emery for whatever reason fancies Konsa out there. That being said, I thought Cash came on against Everton and did really well.
“He gave them something going forward, he gave them something different. He kind of chops and changes the fullbacks. You see even on the left-hand side he does it, on the right-hand side he does it.
“Obviously bringing him in for the future and loaning him back to the club is absolutely ideal. You can get him in pre-season, work with the team and then move forward. He’s only 18, but he’ll still be there to push Cash all the way and Konsa if that’s what he sees as the right-back options.”
Nedeljkovic has made 12 appearances for Crvena Zvezda in the Super Liga so far this season, picking up one assist but the teenager also impressed in the Champions League, where made four appearances, facing the likes of Manchester City and RB Leipzig.
The 18-year-old may not be the finished article, but he looks set to be the latest addition at Villa Park and will be expected to push both Konsa and Cash for a starting place next season.
In other Aston Villa news, Hutton has suggested that Ollie Watkins can help Villa complete a transfer that “ticks all the boxes”
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