Tottenham hold advantage in Aston Villa transfer race to sign Jaden Philogene despite clause at Hull City
Aston Villa may have suffered a blow in their bid to bring Jaden Philogene back to Villa Park ahead of Tottenham if he was made to feel unwanted in his initial spell, according to Alan Hutton.
The England youth international left Unai Emery’s side on a permanent deal last summer, joining Championship side Hull City, where has impressed under Liam Rosenior scoring eight goals and registering six assits in 21 matches.
Villa reportedly included a buy-back clause in Philogene’s exit, but it can only be activated if the Tigers win promotion and that has left the door open for Tottenham to lead the race for his signature ahead of the summer [TEAMtalk, 26 February].
While Hutton has been impressed by the 22-year-old’s performances this season, he admits that Philogene may view a move to Spurs as a bigger step forward in his career than an immediate return to Villa Park.
“I think from a players point of view it depends how he left Villa,” Hutton told Villa News.
“Was it a case where he felt they didn’t want him, that he wasn’t getting the opportunities? That is going to come into it, if you feel like that was the case you’re going to go and try something new.
“Fair play to him, he’s left and gone to Hull and done really well and now other teams are looking and he might feel as though he doesn’t want to go back, he’ll want to move forward in his career and try something else.
“Obviously, Tottenham under Ange have been a breath of fresh air so that might be something that he may feel suits him better than going backwards.”
Will Aston Villa re-sign Jaden Philogene during the summer transfer window?
For whatever reason, Emery decided in the summer that Philogene was not yet ready to make an impact on his first-team squad this season and Villa’s immense success in the Premier League has proven the Spanish manager right.
But that could well play into Phiolgene’s thinking if he looks to make the move to the top flight this summer and it could be what pushes him into the arms of Spurs and Ange Postecoglou.
It will be interesting to see how this transfer saga pans out this summer, especially as Villa have already strengthened their forward line during the January transfer window.
In other Aston Villa news, Emery has already made up his mind over Nicolo Zaniolo’s long-term future at Villa Park beyond the end of the season
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