Aston Villa plotting January swoop for Chelsea midfielder struggling for minutes

Aston Villa are reportedly eyeing a January move for Chelsea midfielder Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, just months after his £30 million transfer from Leicester City. The 26-year-old has struggled to make an impact at Stamford Bridge, and Villa manager Unai Emery is keen on adding him to his squad as he looks to strengthen his midfield options.

A challenging start at Chelsea

Dewsbury-Hall’s time at Chelsea has not gone as planned. Since his summer switch from Leicester City, he has only managed 43 minutes of Premier League action, spread across three brief appearances. His last outing in the league came on 21st September, and since then, he’s been left out of the matchday squad for five of Chelsea’s last six Premier League games.

This lack of playing time is a stark contrast to the pivotal role he played at Leicester City last season. Dewsbury-Hall was one of the standout performers in Leicester’s Championship-winning campaign, contributing 12 goals and 14 assists. His impressive form during that time caught Chelsea’s attention, eventually leading to his big-money move. However, since arriving at Stamford Bridge, the midfielder has found it difficult to break into Enzo Maresca’s team plans.

Villa's interest and potential offer

With his limited opportunities at Chelsea, Aston Villa have now entered the picture. According to The Pride of London, Villa are keen on a loan-to-buy arrangement for Dewsbury-Hall and have submitted a proposal worth around £18.2 million, including add-ons. However, this offer falls short of Chelsea’s expectations, as they aim to recoup the full £30 million they paid just a few months ago.

Villa’s interest in Dewsbury-Hall is understandable given their current midfield situation. Both Boubacar Kamara and Jacob Ramsey have been dealing with injury issues, most recently during the club’s hard-fought match against Liverpool. These midfield concerns have led Emery to explore potential reinforcements, and Dewsbury-Hall could be the ideal solution.

Chelsea's stance and competition for places

Despite Dewsbury-Hall’s lack of game time, Chelsea are not in a rush to offload him, especially at a loss. The midfielder faces fierce competition for a starting spot at Stamford Bridge, particularly from high-profile signings such as Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, and Enzo Fernandez.

His position in the squad is uncertain, with the competition for places being so intense. However, Chelsea’s reluctance to accept a lower fee signals that they still see value in Dewsbury-Hall, even if he has yet to make a significant impact on the pitch.

Potential hurdles and considerations

While Villa’s interest is clear, there are significant hurdles that could prevent a deal from materialising. The gap between Villa’s reported offer and Chelsea’s valuation is a major sticking point, and it remains to be seen whether the two clubs can reach a compromise.

Additionally, Villa’s current midfield options, including summer signings Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana, raise questions about how much game time Dewsbury-Hall would actually get at Villa Park.