Everton were reportedly planning a January move for Aston Villa striker Jonathan Kodjia but he’s now set to be sidelined until the New Year.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce was not exaggerating when he said the news that star striker Jonathan Kodjia will be out until the New Year is ‘devastating’, as reported by The Express.
After losing skipper John Terry to a broken metatarsal, Kodjia will now undergo an operation that will keep him out of action until at least 2018.
The Ivorian striker broke his ankle in the summer and, after returning a few weeks into the new season, has aggravated the issue over the international break. With Villa fourth in the table and flying high after Tuesday’s 2-1 win against Sunderland, this was the last thing they needed.
But Everton’s plans may also have been thrown into disarray by Kodjia’s latest setback. The Toffees need a striker in January and the Birmingham Mail claimed that Villa’s highly-rated centre-forward was a name on their shortlist.
The 28-year-old cost Villa a Championship record £15 million from Bristol City in the summer of 2016, according to Sky Sports, and repaid that investment with 19 goals in 36 starts last season. An acrobatic striker who is a real threat anywhere in the penalty area, Kodjia was certainly deserving of a chance in the Premier League after two prolific seasons in the second tier.
But this ‘devastating’ blow means Everton are unlikely to risk paying a big sum for a player who may not be fit until the spring. The Toffees need a striker as soon as possible and Kodjia’s latest injury may have just cost him a place in Everton’s plans.
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