We are rapidly reaching that part of the reason where those players signed on loan start fighting for their futures. If reports are to be believed, Eintracht Frankfurt have decided against keeping Donny van de Beek – Manchester United’s forgotten man – at the Commerzbank Arena.
Timo Werner, meanwhile, did his hopes of a permanent stay at Tottenham Hotspur a boost with another electric display against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
But what does the future hold for Aston Villa’s Nicolo Zaniolo?
The Italy international can be retained for the fee of £19 million. And it just so happens that, as decision day looms, Zaniolo is finally starting to show glimpses of the talent which, before he ruptured the ACL in both knees, had some proclaiming him the greatest Italian talent of his generation.
Will Aston Villa keep Galatasaray loanee Nicolo Zaniolo?
Zaniolo scored an equaliser against West Ham, led the line well for the most part against Manchester City, and impressed off the bench in the 3-3 draw with Brentford over the weekend.
But has the Galatasaray-owned forward left it too late? The noises coming out of Italy certainly suggest that alternative destinations are being sought out, with AC Milan one club mentioned with increasing frequency.
Zaniolo’s entourage, meanwhile, appear keen to float the idea of a fresh start at Napoli.
“Naples is a beautiful place,” one of the romer Roma star’s camp tells the Neopolitan-based station Radio Kiss Kiss. “The truth is that it would be a very welcome solution for Nicolo.”
Zaniolo has often struggled to force his way into Unai Emery’s starting XI this season. The likes of Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby tend to be preferred out wide, while Emery has opted to field the likes of John McGinn or Youri Tielemans in the ‘number eight’ roles. The January signing of Morgan Rogers from Middlesbrough, meanwhile, has only added further competition in attack.
Villa will need to pay £19 million for Italy international
Gioncondo Martorelli wonders if Zaniolo would be better off re-tracing his steps with a return to a Fiorentina side he represented at youth level before moving on to Inter Milan.
“This could be an interesting operation,” Martorelli, who works as an agent in Italy, tells Radio Firenze Viola. “I believe he is a player still capable of reach very high levels. Spalletti lets him play (for Italy) even though he isn’t playing much at Aston Villa.
“I know him well because in the Fiorentina youth team he played with my son. So I can say that he is a player with formidable talent.
“For this reason, if I were at Fiorentina, I would make this bet but before the European Championships. It is an operation that must be done immediately.”
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