Aston Villa have sent Kosta Nedeljkovic on loan to RB Leipzig
Kosta Nedeljkovic
Kosta Nedeljkovic(Image: Getty Images)
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The chances of Aston Villa offloading Kosta Nedeljkovic to RB Leipzig are 'slim' according to a report in Germany.
Newspaper Bild has reported how the 19-year-old has missed the last seven matches with a knee injury from which he is only just about to return.
Even before that the Serb, who finally joined Villa from Red Star Belgrade in the summer of 2024 after signing that January, has managed only two substitute appearances for the Bundesliga outfit.
Indeed he has played just 11 minutes with Ridle Baku the club's first choice right back, leading Bild to claim sporting director Marcel Schäfer is unlikely to exercise the €10 million purchase option at the end of the season.
Now back in training and speaking to the newspaper Nedeljkovic admitted the injury had been difficult from a psychological standpoint.
"That wasn't easy mentally. Especially having to train alone after the injury and missing four or five games. But I'm giving it my all, that's my mentality.
“I’m not the type to settle down on the bench. I speak to the coach every day. I know he trusts me. I hope I’ll get my chance in the next few months.”
"I want to use the international break to put myself back in contention for a place in the squad.
"At the start of the season, I took a knock. Despite the problems, I continued training and tried to ignore the pain.
"Sometimes you have to be smart, listen to your body, and not overexert yourself – even if you always want to give 100 percent."
Nedeljkovic, the 1000th player to represent Villa, played ten times for Unai Emery last season, making his debut against West Ham last August and starting at home to Arsenal in the following game. He last played for Villa in January 2025.
Instead he was loaned to Leipzig in the second half of last term and returned there for the whole of this season.
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