Aston Villa have reportedly agreed a deal to loan right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic to RB Leipzig for the rest of the season.
The 19-year-old has been limited to just 10 appearances so far this season, as despite Matty Cash’s ongoing injury woes, Unai Emery hasn’t often turned to the Serbian international as a solution.
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To an extent, it has left many baffled given the promise and positive signs that he’s displayed when involved, dating back to pre-season when he made a really encouraging impression to suggest that he could be a key option this season.
Ultimately, that hasn’t worked out as he has perhaps struggled to entirely convince with his adaptation and integration into the side, and his chances of playing were further damaged with the January signing of Andres Garcia.
According to The Athletic, Nedeljkovic is set to join RB Leipzig on loan for the remainder of the campaign after a deal was agreed, and he has travelled to Germany to undergo his medical and finalise the switch.
Putting the disappointment of not seeing more of him aside, this is a sensible move given his circumstances, as it will hopefully give him an opportunity to play regularly and develop his game, while gaining valuable experience playing at a high level to test himself and improve.
The objective will be to return a better player in the summer to try and establish himself in the Villa squad again, and hopefully there will be an opening for him to do that, perhaps with him and Garcia being lined up as the long-term solutions at right-back as Cash continues to struggle to make that position entirely his.
For Nedeljkovic though, his primary focus now will be on impressing in Leipzig and making the most of the opportunity he’s got for the next few months, and Villa will no doubt closely monitor his performances with the hope that it proves to be a productive loan stint.
