Villa turned down a huge offer for the left-back during the week so all eyes were on him against Leeds.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has admitted to the Birmingham Mail that highly-rated left-back Jordan Amavi was given a bumpy ride by Leeds United winger Hadi Sacko in their 1-1 Championship draw on Thursday.
Jonathan Kodjia took his tally for the season to nine after thumping home an 86th minute spot-kick at Villa Park, cancelling out Pontus Jansson’s second half opener to boot, though Sacko could have ensured a ninth win in 11 league outings for the visitors late on only to be denied by the crossbar.
Amavi, who owner Dr Tony Xia claimed is the subject of a £25 million bid believed to be from China, according to the Birmingham Mail, almost made a rare mistake under pressure from Sacko late on and Bruce concedes that the France Under-21 international endured one of his most difficult games in a Villa shirt.
“He had a tough time today against their boy Sacko, who I think is a very, very good player,” Bruce told the Birmingham Mail.
“He’s stuck at it and he’s made a mistake late on and recovered, he’ll get better and better.”
Sacko has been one of the many success stories of Leeds United under Garry Monk, the on-loan Benfica winger settling immediately into English football thanks to his rapid pace on the flanks.
And Amavi will no doubt have breathed a sigh of relief at full-time, safe in the knowledge that he will not have to renew acquaintances with the 22-year-old this season.
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