Pundit shares new Kosta Nedeljković transfer verdict as Aston Villa avoid ‘pointless’ mistake
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 has been left delighted by Aston Villa’s decision to sign Kosta Nedeljkovic before loaning him back to Red Star Belgrade, suggesting it would have been “pointless” for him to remain an unused substitute.
Nedeljkovic has joined the ranks at Villa Park from Red Star Belgrade as Unai Emery’s first and only signing of the January transfer window so far but has returned to the Serbian giants for the remainder of the season on a temporary basis.
That leaves the Aston Villa boss with the pairing of Matty Cash and Ezri Konsa to rotate at right-back for the remainder of the season, with a top-four push currently on the cards and Europa Conference League matches on the horizon.
While some supporters had hoped that the 18-year-old would immediately find his way into Emery’s first-team plans, Hutton thinks this loan arrangement is the “ideal situation” for all parties involved in the transfer.
“I think it’s a good option,” Hutton told Villa News.
“He’s 18, I can’t remember exactly how many appearances, but I’m pretty sure this his first real first-team experience and he’s doing well so let him play there, enjoy his football until the end of the season and get that experience that he needs.
“Villa at this moment in time, Konsa can play there, Matty Cash is there. If he was to come to Villa now he might not play, so you’re just sitting there which is kind of pointless.
“Bring him in the summer, have a good pre-season, learn how the manager wants him to play and then hopefully kick on so I think it is an ideal situation.”
The teenager has had a truly superb breakthrough season with Red Star in Serbia, managing to impress both domestically and in Europe, including in Champions League clashes with Manchester City and RB Leipzig both home and away.
While he may not be ready to make the immediate step up to the Premier League, the opportunity to finish off his excellent start to the season in his homeland should hopefully mean that he’ll be even better prepared to become a regular under Emery next term.
In other Aston Villa news, Hutton has played down Morgan Rogers’ links with West Brom ahead of a potential move to Villa
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