Unai Emery is reportedly considering allowing Jaden Philogene to depart Aston Villa on loan during the January transfer window. This comes after the winger, who was brought back to Villa from Hull City in the summer for a reported £16 million, has had a limited impact at the club so far. Despite the significant investment in the 21-year-old, Philogene has only started four matches across all competitions, making a total of 15 appearances but failing to score or register an assist. His contributions in the attacking third have been minimal, having created just four chances and accumulated shots with an expected goals (xG) value of only 0.54.
Aston Villa has been actively searching for a wide player this month, with rumors linking the club to Borussia Dortmund's Donyell Malen. As Villa gears up for their Premier League match against Leicester City on Saturday, Emery addressed the situation surrounding Philogene, suggesting that a loan move could be on the cards. "We are starting the new year focused on our match against Leicester, starting at home at Villa Park," Emery said.
The Spanish manager acknowledged Philogene’s potential but admitted that the winger hasn’t fully demonstrated it during his first few months at Villa. Emery pointed out that Philogene has been involved in some important matches, including games against top clubs like Bayern Munich and Manchester United, but for various reasons, he hasn't yet lived up to expectations. "I believe in his potential, but it is maybe one option as well for him or for the club," Emery added, highlighting that a move away from Villa could help Philogene find more consistent playing time and develop further.
Aston Villa's current form, however, is strong, especially at home. With Ollie Watkins, who has been in excellent form, contributing to 97 Premier League goals in 165 appearances, Villa has been solid at Villa Park. Watkins recently scored and assisted in a match against Brighton, marking his tenth involvement in such performances in the league. Villa has been unbeaten at home since their opening-day loss to Arsenal, having gone nine games without defeat (five wins and four draws).
In contrast, Leicester City, Villa’s upcoming opponents, have been struggling in recent weeks. They have lost their last four Premier League games and have yet to recover from a difficult run of form. Their last series of consecutive losses was back in August/September 2022 when they endured six defeats. With Villa's strong home record, they are heavily favored to win the upcoming match. Historically, Villa has performed well in their first league game of a calendar year when played at home, having lost just once in their last 13 such encounters (six wins and six draws). The only exception was a 2-0 loss to Swansea in 2012.
As Villa heads into this match with renewed confidence and solid form, the future of Jaden Philogene could be decided soon, as a loan move might be the best option for both the player and the club to ensure his development and future success.
