Dean Smith comments on Jonathan Kodjia’s Aston Villa future

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Aston Villa forward Jonathan Kodjia is reportedly on the radar of Angers.

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has suggested to The Birmingham Mail that Jonathan Kodjia will not leave the club in the January transfer window.

According to Ouest France, French club Angers are interested in the 29-year-old, who is claimed to be unhappy with his playing time under manager Smith and is interested in moving to the Ligue 1 outfit (click here to read more).

Smith told The Birmingham Mail about Kodjia: “We’ve not spoken of that at all. He is second top scorer at the club and there is no reason we would be looking for Jonathan to leave.

“He (Kodjia) has been the one who would come in for Tammy Abraham and he has played wide left for us as well. I do not know of any interests or bids for our players and we are not welcoming any.”

Staying at Aston Villa

Kodjia is not guaranteed a place in the Villa starting lineup at the moment, but with Villa aiming to finish in the top six of the Championship table this season, the 29-year-old forward will be important for the Villans in the coming weeks and months.

The Ivory Coast international forward knows the Championship inside out, and he could contribute with important goals during the rest of the campaign.

According to WhoScored, the 29-year-old has made 17 starts and 10 substitute appearances in the Championship for Villa so far this season, scoring six goals and providing two assists in the process.

Praise for Tammy Abraham

Meanwhile, Villa manager Smith has said that Chelsea-owned striker Tammy Abraham will be disappointed that he did not score more goals than he did against Ipswich Town at the weekend.

Abraham, signed on loan from Premier League club Chelsea in the summer of 2018, scored both goals in the Villans’ 2-1 victory over Ipswich at Villa Park in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.

Smith told Villa’s official website about Abraham: “I think he’ll be disappointed it’s not 20, 21 or even 22 today. He had lots of opportunities.

“He had the header in the first half, one where he got through in the second and the one at the far post near the end.”