Aston Villa have already saved millions as Moussa Diaby transfer talk intensifies
This week's Claret & Blue Podcast Aston Villa Q&A is now available for you to watch and listen to
Aston Villa's Moussa Diaby is being linked with a move away from B6 this summer after less than 12 months with the club as interest in the Frenchman from Saudi Arabia intensifies.
And Villa may not choose to spend big to replace Diaby if he were to depart as Jaden Philogene has already saved the club millions in the transfer market. The 22-year-old returns to Villa for essentially £13m with assurances over his game time after a sensational campaign with Hull City in the Championship last term.
On the latest Claret & Blue Q&A session, which is now available to watch on YouTube or to listen to on your preferred podcast provider, Dan Rolinson and John Townley discussed Philogene's imminent return to the club.
Dan: "Part of the business that we're seeing is replacing players as well, isn't it. If Duran is to leave then we need another striker, if we get a great offer for Moussa Diaby then we have to sign someone else right?"
John: "You think we need another signing even after Philogene?"
Dan: "I think so. It would depend on who replaced Duran, but I think you'd need someone else too."
John: "I just don't think we will. Philogene has been given assurances that he is going to be playing football and 'replacing' Diaby is the best way of doing that."
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Dan: "Yes, if Diaby is to leave that does open up game time for Philogene. He has obviously had assurances this time around that, otherwise he would not be coming back. It's as simple as that. But if we lose Diaby, even with Philogene, surely we need to spend big again?"
John: "I don't think we can, we don't have the space (in the squad) for a start. We've signed Onana without selling anyone, currently we've signed Philogene without selling anyone. He wouldn't have come back without knowing something has changed, or is about to change."
Dan: "So you see a scenario where we sell Moussa Diaby for say £60m and replace him only with Philogene for say £13m?
John: "I mean in my head that appears likely, we don't know if anything's going to actually materialise yet, but I'd be shocked if it didn't because the Philogene signing is the big clue."