Unai Emery reveals plan to replace Leander Dendoncker and drops Aston Villa transfer hint
Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive as Unai Emery explains his plan for Tim Iroegbunam as Leander Dendoncker closes in on Napoli loan switch
Unai Emery has suggested Aston Villa will not delve into the January transfer market to replace Leander Dendoncker, but instead he'll place his trust in Tim Iroegbunam to back-up Boubacar Kamara.
Iroegbunam is the only natural replacement for Kamara in the Villa squad once Dendoncker completes his loan move to Napoli. The Belgian could sign on for the Serie A club on a permanent basis once the season is over.
Emery has only played Iroegbunam once this season, when he came off the bench in the defeat against Manchester United on Boxing Day. But the Villa boss believes the 20-year-old has the characteristics to play a role in the second half of the campaign.
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"We added in the pre-season Tim but he was injured and he started training with us in October and November," Emery said. "And he's doing a process with us. I think his characteristics as a player is more or less the same position trying to fight to or to share the position with Bouba Kamara. Leander Dendoncker is a little bit similar.
"When we were trying to analyse deeply how we can face the last four months in every competition we are facing, I decided to let Dendoncker to leave and to keep here Tim. I am going to work now after today and after the match tomorrow thinking to give him chances to progress with us here in the idea we are trying to build with Tim.
Asked if he is putting faith in the youth, Emery said: "We have to do it, we have to try and support and help. Tim has been working with us for five months. He started being injured in the summer but he was available training with us the last few months.
"I was testing him in each session we were having, it was a test for him. I was testing him with our coaches. I think he is a player who can progress and we think he could progress more now [after] giving him more chances to play."
Calum Chambers and Bertrand Traore are also free to leave Villa this month and could follow Dendoncker out the door before next Thursday's 11pm deadline.
"They know their situation and of course, it is because I am thinking how we can change something in the squad," Emery said. "But at the beginning was like I told you, I try to allow some players to leave because I don't think they were going to have more chances to play for different circumstances.
"They are both very good players and their commitment always was perfect here but we are trying to progress in our process here with the players to let them to leave. But we are working on it. I know they are as well working in finding a solution for them but no news for today."