Jaden Philogene
In demand... Jaden Philogene (Image: Getty Images)
Aston Villa sold Jaden Philogene to Premier League rivals Ipswich Town in the January transfer window - but the winger could be on the move again in the summer with interest emerging from overseas.
Villa only brought Philogene back to the club last summer from Hull City, who they'd sold him to 12 months earlier. After a year excelling in the Championship with a side which just missed out on a play-off place, Philogene had earned another crack at the top flight.
The academy talent, who first appeared in the EFL Cup win under Barrow in 2021 under Dean Smith, featured here and there under Unai Emery - most notably starting in the win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League - but was often utilised as a substitute.
With Ipswich, still fighting to remain in the Premier League this term, having retained their interest in Philogene from the summer when Villa pipped them to his signature, they forked out in the region of £20m to take him to Portman Road and he has played regularly.
Philogene, starring alongside Tractor Boys teammates Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson, scored late in England under 21s' 4-2 friendly win over Portugal at The Hawthorns on Monday ahead of the return to domestic action - but what awaits in the longer term remains to be seen.
With there being an increasing chance that Ipswich find themselves back in the Championship next term - they'd be well equipped with the likes of Philogene, Hutchinson and Jack Clarke in tow - reports have emerged that Turkish side Besiktas, also longer-term admirers of Philogene, are ready to make an offer in the summer and hand him a chance to play in Europe.
The Turkish press claim that Besiktas, now managed by former Manchester United striker and boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, are eager to loan Philogene for a season and offer him the opportunity to continue playing at a top tier club while Town, predicted to be in the Championship again, battle for an instant return to the top flight.
If any move for Philogene materialises this summer, to Besiktas or elsewhere, it'd be the third move for the winger in as many transfer windows and his fourth in five since leaving Villa for Hull a little over 18 months ago.
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