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Report: Jonathan Kodjia could leave Aston Villa this month

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Aston Villa striker Jonathan Kodjia is reportedly attracting interest from Ligue 1 outfit Angers.

23rd December 2018, Villa Park, Birmingham, England; EFL Championship football, Aston Villa versus Leeds United; Jonathan Kodjia of Aston Villa gets his header on goal

Aston Villa striker Jonathan Kodjia is willing to leave the club this month, with Ligue 1 side Angers keen to take him back to the club, according to a report.

French outlet Ouest France claims the 29-year-old is ‘unhappy’ with his playing time under manager Dean Smith as Kodjia would be interested in a move back to France.

It is said the Ivory Coast striker, who wants to make his nations AFCON squad this summer, needs to play regularly in order to guarantee a place.

Kodjia started on the bench for Villa as they recorded a 2-2 draw at home to Hull City on Saturday, with Albert Adomah and Yannick Bolasie starting ahead of him.

Added with that, in Villa’s previous match, their 3-0 defeat to Wigan, he was not named in the matchday squad, with his last start coming at home to QPR on New Year’s Day.

But the versatile attacker has not started back-to-back games for the promotion-chasing side since the back of end of November.

Jonathan Kodjia of Aston Villa scores his sides first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Birmingham City at Villa Park on November 25, 2018 in Birmingham,...

In previous seasons, when fit and free from injury, Kodjia has deployed the striker’s role on a regular basis and has been a key player for the club

But the arrival of Tammy Abraham in the summer has seen him shift out wide, for both Steve Bruce and now Smith.

The Chelsea loanee has struck 17 league goals this season, with Kodjia playing as an inside forward, mostly under Smith, who has deployed a more attacking system since Steve Bruce’s sacking.

Kodjia moved to Villa Park during the summer of 2016 for a big-money fee from Bristol City and he has scored 26 goals in 81 games during that period.

Jonathan Kodjia of Aston Villa in action during training session at Bodymoor Heath training ground on January 17, 2019 in Birmingham, England.