Aston Villa winger Samuel Iling-Junior is exploring potential loan options ahead of the transfer window deadline.
Iling-Junior signed from Juventus in July alongside Enzo Barrenechea for a combined fee of €22million, but both were left out of Villa’s matchday squad for their opening day Premier League fixture at West Ham United.
Iling-Junior featured in Villa’s pre-season friendlies and although the 20-year-old can play in multiple positions, including left-back and left wing-back, was primarily utilised as a left No 10 by manager Unai Emery.
Villa have competition for places in the position, with Jacob Ramsey, Morgan Rogers, Emiliano Buendia and John McGinn all used by Emery in the role previously.
The England youth international, who has a European Under-19 Championship winner’s medal, is keen for regular game time, which is accepted by Villa as a way of accelerating his development.
It is why a loan move away for Iling-Junior before the end of the transfer window is being explored, similar to Lewis Dobbin, who joined from Everton this summer before moving to West Brom on loan for the remainder of the campaign.
Iling-Junior will, however, only go on loan if the right move becomes available.
Last season, Iling-Junior made 27 appearances for Juventus, starting six times and was used as a substitute in 20 of the 34 matchday squads he was included in. He did, however, play successive 90 minutes in the final two games of the campaign.
GO DEEPER
Samuel Iling-Junior to Aston Villa: The Athletic 500 transfer ratings
(Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
