Aston Villa expected to sanction another defender transfer as 'open talks'
Aston Villa defender Kosta Nedeljkovic is a player who is expected to leave the club before Monday night's transfer deadline passes - and there is a suitor in France who could bring him to Ligue 1.
Villa boss Unai Emery has recently confirmed that Nedeljkovic, who signed for Villa from Red Star Belgrade last January before he linked up with the club in the summer, would be made available for a loan spell in order for the young Serbian to get more first-team minutes.
Nedeljkovic, who is still only 19, has made nine appearances across four different competitions for Villa this season; his only two starts have come in the EFL Cup and his most recent appearances full stop came in the Boxing Day defeat at Newcastle United and in the FA Cup victory over West Ham United.
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Villa, though, have signed Andres Garcia from Levante this month and with Matty Cash - who went off injured against Celtic on Wednesday night - the firmly established first choice right-back when fit, coupled with the likes of Ezri Konsa and Lamare Bogarde who are able to fill in when necessary, the consensus is that Nedeljkovic should be allowed to leave on loan.
Reports in France now claim that St Etienne are one side who are eager to conclude such a deal before the deadline and, as such, have opened talks with Villa. Their president Ivan Gazidis was responsible for hiring Emery in his role as CEO of Arsenal in 2018, when tasked with succeeding the departing Arsene Wenger.
