Villa defender Bjorn Engels has struggled for game time after recurring injuries have limited his availablity at B6.
After a move from Reims last summer, the lanky Belgian was seen as the perfect partner for Tyrone Mings.
However, the 26 year old former Belgian youth international has managed just 16 appearances in claret and blue.
Engels’ torrid injury plagued start to his Villa career also looks set to be carrying into the new 2020/2021 campaign, with the latest reports indicating that the latest issue is a groin complaint.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe therefore won’t play any part against Sheffield United, despite it being over a week into the new season as Villa didn’t feature on the opening weekend on Premier League fixtures.
Concerningly for Engels, he also now finds himself having been leapfrogged in the squad by Ezri Konsa. Konsa was afforded plenty of first team action last season, with the former Brentford player forming a much improved partnership alongside Mings (post-lockdown) as Villa ultimately avoided relegation.
Kortney Hause, whilst arguably not the most composed amongst Villa’s defensive cover, is generally reliable and versatile across the back four. As importantly, aside from being forced out prior to the Crystal Palace game last season, is a near ever present in the squad.
The latest transfer rumour suggests that a way out might be available to Engels, if only on loan.
Dean Smith’s reported preference is to sell the former Olympiakos defender to Anderlecht. However, with Villa keen to recoup a significant portion of the transfer fee, this could prove a stumbling block, with the Jupiler Pro League side preferring a loan deal.
NEWSLETTER
Don’t forget to SIGN UP to our 100% FREE Villa Newsletter.
A decade of Villa News to your inbox – JOIN TODAY!
Want to help even more? Please Donate
Why are we thinking of letting Engels go, we have only 2 right footed centre backs, so if Konsa was to get an injury, who do we replace him with? Engels looked really good and composed at the start of last season, a bit more game time is all he needs along with a confidence boost. Unless we’ve got a replacement in the pipeline we’d be stupid to let him go.