Jonathan Kodjia is the latest player tipped to leave Aston Villa.
Aston Villa fans must have known this day would come.
Thanks to a dire financial situation and the need to raise around £40 million to avoid FFP sanctions, Aston Villa will be forced to sell most of their key players this summer with Jack Grealish and James Chester headlining the likely departure list.
But it seemed only a matter of time before the £15 million centre-forward Jonathan Kodjia found himself in the gossip columns, especially after manager Steve Bruce admitted that the club’s record signing could be sold in a heart-wrenching interview on Tuesday.
According to the Express and Star, Newcastle United are interested in giving the Ivorian international his first taste of Premier League football. It is understood that he could come cheaper than West Brom’s Salomon Rondon, suggesting that Villa don’t expect to make a profit on a player they signed from Bristol City two years ago.
Championship rivals Leeds are also keen on the former Angers frontman. Marcelo Bielsa’s side have spent all summer looking for a proven goalscorer and have been linked with Britt Assombalonga, Matej Vydra, Lewis Grabban, Jordan Hugill and Abel Hernandez. Kodjia, then, ticks plenty of boxes having scored 19 goals in his debut seasons for Bristol City and Villa.
And, if they receive a decent offer, it seems Villa fans would be happy to let Kodjia go.
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