Leander Dendoncker set for Aston Villa return with decision to be made at Villa Park
Aston Villa midfielder Leander Dendoncker will return to the club after Napoli decided against making his loan deal a permanent one, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Italian journalist posted on his X account reporting that Napoli won’t trigger the £7.7million buy option clause in his half-season loan, meaning the 29-year-old will return to Aston Villa.
Dendoncker has made just three substitute appearances for last season’s Serie A champions, and Villa will still look to sell the Belgian on a permanent deal this summer.
That’s backed up by former Villans scout Bryan King, who told exclusively told Villa News that he’s not part of Unai Emery’s plans: “He’s on big money, and obviously Emery doesn’t like him.”
Is there a way back for Leander Dendoncker at Aston Villa
Aston Villa brought Dendoncker to the club in 2022 under Steven Gerrard, but after making just 21 appearances in his first season, opportunities were far harder to come by this season.
The Belgian played 15 times in the first half of this season, eight of which came in the Premier League, but only appeared for an average of 19 minutes per match and accumulated a SofaScore rating of 6.70.
He scored his first Villa goal against Manchester United on Boxing Day, but exactly a month later was sent to Napoli on loan; where he’s fared even worse, making three substitute appearances for an average rating of just 6.60.
In these cameos, coming at an average of barely 11 minutes per game, Dendoncker has managed just 0.03 xG in total and failed to complete a single long ball or cross (0%).
He has only averaged 11 touches of the ball on average in his three appearances, losing possession 2.3 times per match and winning just 0.3 ground duels per 90, a rate of 50%.
Dendoncker hasn’t made anywhere near the impact that both he and Emery would have hoped he’d have in Naples and returns to Aston Villa with his tail between his legs.
It’s a move that won’t have won him any new friends at Villa Park either, and with other midfield transfers mooted, the former Wolves man could be left to rot by Emery before any exit is secured.
In other Aston Villa news, one player linked with a switch to FC Barcelona would be happy to join Emery’s side instead.
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