Tim Iroegbunam tipped to snub summer Aston Villa exit as new Ajax transfer update emerges
Aston Villa midfielder Tim Iroegbunam has been tipped to snub a summer transfer to Ajax to remain at Villa Park by Alan Hutton.
The young midfielder has enjoyed a strong “breakout” season under Unai Emery this term, becoming a regular fixture in the Villans matchday squad while also making starts in both the Premier League and the Europa Conference League.
Iroegbunam’s minutes may have been limited, but his displays have still reportedly caught the eye of some of Europe’s biggest clubs, with Ajax understood to hold an interest in the 20-year-old ahead of the end of the season [Football Insider, 26 March].
While Hutton thinks the former West Brom academy product will want to remain at Villa Park, he does admit that the midfielder’s future will become clearer in teh final weeks of the season after Youri Tielemans picked up a new injury.
“I think the manager has shown that he trusts him,” Hutton told Villa News.
“He’s played in some big games and big moments and he’s in among the squad now. He’ll see that he’s got that pathway into the first team and he’ll probably feel that he’s got the talent and the ability to play week in and week out.
“It’s kind of the breakout season for him so it’s about building on his previous performances. I understand the links with Ajax because they like young players that they can bed in to then sell them on.
“Do I think that’s a place where he’d like to go right now? I don’t think so. I think he probably sees his future at Villa. He’ll feel that he can squeeze his way into this team with the attributes that he’s got.
“We’ll find out in the coming weeks, there are a couple of injuries and will the manager use him? There are difficult games coming up and they have to win as many as possible so I think he’ll find out in the next few weeks.”
Will Aston Villa and Unai Emery sell Tim Iroegbunam in the summer transfer window at Villa Park?
Villa have been quick to sell academy players in the past much to the frustration of both supporters and pundits and it feels unlikely that they will repeat that mistake come the end of the Premier League season.
But previous PSR concerns at Villa Park could mean that some homegrown talents simply have to be sold to ensure the Villans remain compliant with the Premier League’s financial restrictions, hence the speculation around Iroegbunam’s future.
If a big offer arrived from the Dutch giants for his signature, it’s hard to see how Villa could turn it down, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the 20-year-old will be keen to dash out of the Villa Park exit door.
Hopefully, Iroegbunam will continue his development under Emery and become a more regular fixture of the Villans starting XI next season.
In other Aston Villa news, Clement Lenglet has been tipped to make his move to Villa Park permanent in the summer transfer window
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