According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Aston Villa prodigy Jaden Philogene-Bidace is attracting ‘increased interest’ from clubs in the Football League, but it remains to be seen whether he’ll be granted a temporary departure when the winter transfer window opens.
The 18-year-old has been promoted to the first team after scoring three goals and supplying one assist in seven Premier League 2 appearances this season. Philogene-Bidace is highly-rated, having been called ‘outstanding’ by his former coach Ahmed Abdulla, but Villa want to keep him at Bodymoor Heath.
Dean Smith has given a total of 37 appearances and 2,870 minutes of playing time to five players aged 23 and under this season – Jacob Ramsey (aged 19), Keinan Davis (22), Douglas Luiz (22), Ezri Konsa (22) and Matty Cash (23) – so might he call upon Philogene-Bidace next?
READ ASTON VILLA VERDICT
The in-demand youngster has scored nine goals and provided one assist in 15 games at under-18 level. For the under-23s, he has scored three goals and supplied one assist in 14 games. [Transfermarkt]
Although the 18-year-old has Trezeguet, Anwar El Ghazi and Jack Grealish for competition, there is a clear pathway for youth players to get into the first team, given Smith’s aforementioned trust in youngsters. Therefore, Villa may be able to retain their rising star.
In other news, Aston Villa have suffered an injury blow ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Wolves.
