Aston Villa open transfer talks with Belgian club for sale of forgotten player

Aston Villa have reportedly engaged in initial negotiations with Belgian club RSC Anderlecht over the permanent transfer of midfielder Leander Dendoncker. The former Wolves midfielder is currently on loan with Anderlecht, and Villa is hopeful of securing a deal that will see the player move permanently.

Dendoncker's sorry Villa spell drawing to a close

The Belgian's two-year spell with Aston Villa, which has seen the 29-year-old leave twice on loan, looks to be nearing an end. Dendoncker signed for Villa from Wolves for a fee in the region of £13 million, and unfortunately for him, he was one of several players signed by Steven Gerrard who failed in their time at the club.

Despite a promising start to life at the club, producing excellent performances in the home victories over Brentford and Manchester United in his first couple of months, Dendoncker struggled to maintain regular game time under Unai Emery.

As a result of Villa progressing to the next level, Dendoncker was left behind and as a result, started just one game in the 2023/24 season. He did score in that game, in the defeat away at Old Trafford. After falling a long way down the pecking order in the Villa midfield, he joined Italian club Napoli on loan for the second half of last season. However, in his four months with the club, he made just three appearances from the substitute bench totalling 21 minutes of playing time.

A promising start to life back in Belgium

The central midfielder, capped 32 times by his country, has settled in well to life back in his home country. So far this season he has started five of their seven games so far this season, playing ninety minutes and captaining the team in each of those games. He only missed the other two due to illness.

His move to Anderlecht went down to the wire during the recent summer transfer window but Villawere able to complete the deal that meant the midfielder would return to his boyhood club on loan.

According to Voetbal Krant, a Dutch media outlet, talks are now underway to make that move permanent. However, the report claims that the Purple and White are seeking to negotiate a fixed price of €6m (£5m), as opposed to the originally agreed price of €8m (£6.6m).

It is believed that once the negotiations have advanced, Dendoncker will sign a four-year contract in Anderlecht - a prospect he is said to be delighted with as he looks to continue playing regularly towards the latter stages of his career, with his close family and friends living in the city.

Whether the sale goes through as £5 or nearly £7 million, Villa will make a significant loss on the player that they bought for double that price two years ago. He will leave the club having made 36 appearances in claret and blue, scoring one goal.

UTV