Samuel Iling-Junior verdict shared as Aston Villa make transfer decision
Dan Bardell believes a loan deal for Samuel Iling-Junior suits everyone after being omitted from the Aston Villa squad against West Ham.
Fabrizio Romano reported on 23 August that the 20-year-old is set to return to Italy to join Bologna on a season-long loan.
This has come as a surprise to many Villa fans given that the left-sided midfielder only moved to B6 from Juventus earlier in the summer.
Sky Sports and talkSPORT journalist Bardell has suggested the deal is best for all parties to help continue the Englishman’s development.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell said: “It has felt like [Enzo] Barrenechea and Iling Junior are more development players.
“You look at the way Villa play, they don’t really play with an orthodox wide player on the left-hand side. It is always going to be [John] McGinn, [Jacob] Ramsey or [Morgan] Rogers. On the right, you’ve got Leon Bailey and [Jaden] Philogene who has come in.
“Villa picked their 22-man squad for the West Ham game and he wasn’t in it so I can understand why a loan move is being explored.
“I think he still has a future at Aston Villa but he just won’t get the minutes yet and he needs them at this stage of his development.“
Samuel Iling-Junior to leave Aston Villa for Bologna loan
It seems to be a bizarre move to sign a player with excitement surrounding him and then loan him out within the same transfer window.
That is exactly the case for Iling-Junior as Villa fans were looking forward to seeing the promising 20-year-old in action this season.
As a former Chelsea academy star, the versatile winger showed his capabilities for Juventus with their supporters disappointed to lose him.
The writing now appears to be on the wall for the England U21 international with a loan move back to Serie A set to be completed.
This will be positive for his development, playing regular minutes in a top division and in the Champions League.
It may not be the move that Villa would have expected to make but makes sense for all parties from the outside.
In other Aston Villa news, Jhon Duran is to be favoured despite what Andy Gray has heard about another player.
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