According to Fabrizio Romano, Gerard Deulofeu will not be leaving Udinese in the January transfer window due to the fact he needs surgery on an injury.
Deulofeu had been strongly linked with Aston Villa, as Unai Emery is a known fan of the Spanish winger. Despite having a good season with Udinese, grabbing six assists and two goals in 16 league appearances, Deulofeu will now have to stay put as he undergoes surgery.
This news will come as a disappointment to Aston Villa, who were looking to add to their attacking options in the January transfer window. With Deulofeu out of the picture, Villa may have to look elsewhere to bolster their squad.
Of course, a summer move for Deulofeu may still eventually be possible, but the club will want to assess how the player recovers from his injury.
Players who rely on their speed often don’t recover too well from such surgeries, and Villa will want to make sure they are getting an undamaged player before rekindling any interest.
Deulofeu has played in the Premier League before, with Watford and Everton. He was a fan favorite during his time at Watford, where he helped the club reach the FA Cup Final in 2019.
His experience in the Premier League could have been a valuable asset for Villa, but it seems they will not be adding the Spaniard to their squad at this juncture.
Overall, this is a blow for Aston Villa in their transfer window plans, but they will have to look elsewhere in the meantime.
Where Villa turn to next remains to be seen, but with just days left in the transfer window, the Villans will have to cook up a plan B fairly quickly.
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