Aston Villa are hoping to sell Leander Dendoncker in January but the former Wolves midfielder is holding out for a move to another Premier League club.
That is according to Sacha Tavolieri, the Belgian reporter shedding some light the future of a man who, after falling out of favour at Aston Villa, is suffering the same fate for Domenico Tedesco’s Rote Duivels now too.
Leander Dendoncker was left out by Belgium during both the September and October international breaks. His absence from November’s fixtures, then, came as no real surprise. Especially with the former Anderlecht skipper further than ever down the Villa Park pecking order.
Aston Villa open to Leander Dendoncker offers
“The Belgian international is no longer in Unai Emery’s plans,” Tavolieri explains.
“He will have to find a solution. From a source, what we can confirm to you is that he does not want to leave England. He wishes to stay in the Premier League. Therefore, a solution will have to be found.
“A departure is slowly taking shape, which is why the Aston Villa management tries to push for Dendoncker’s departure.”
Aston Villa paid £15 million to sign the versatile enforcer from Midland neighbours Wolves just over a year ago. Dendoncker has played only seven minutes of Premier League football under Emery this season, Douglas Luiz, Boubacar Kamara, Jacob Ramsey, Nicolo Zaniolo, Youri Tielemans and the outstanding John McGinn keeping him out of the XI.
Tavolieri believes that, if push comes to shove, Dendoncker would not be against joining a host of fellow Premier League misfits in Turkey. His ‘priority’, however, is to stay in England, though whether Villa are willing to strengthen a Premier League rival remains to be seen.
No Premier League starts all season
“He was offered to Galatasaray,” the reporter adds. “He would be interested in going to Galatasaray but, again, staying in England is his priority.”
Dendoncker has started only six top-flight games since Emery replaced Steven Gerrard in 2022.
“I have had 10 months with him,” Emery told the Birmingham Mail back in August. “And I am always trying to find (out how he can) be regular (consistent) every day, every month. Training, playing and getting his best performance.
“For some different circumstances, he didn’t do it.”
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