Aston Villa have some high-profile names out on loan, with players either sent out to develop or just look for that much-needed game time.
Someone like Alex Moreno moved to Nottingham Forest because he had Lucas Digne and summer signing Ian Maatsen ahead of him.
Whereas, summer arrivals from Juventus Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea, were both loaned straight back out after arriving as part of the Douglas Luiz deal.
Unfortunately for Aston Villa, they had to deal with Profit and Sustainability (PSR) and Financial Fair Play (FFP) issues this summer.
It meant that they had to be clever in the transfer market, including selling academy product Tim Iroegbunam to Everton and buying striker Lewis Dobbin, who was loaned to Championship side West Brom.
Here, we take a look at how some of Villa’s loan players have been getting on during the early stages of the new season from England’s second tier to the Belgian Pro League.
How Aston Villa’s loan players are getting on
Leander Dendoncker, loaned out for the season to Anderlecht – During the second half of last season, Leander Dendoncker moved to Napoli, hardly played and probably didn’t help his progression.
But the 29-year-old moved back to his hometown club this summer by re-signing for Anderlecht on a loan deal and now he is getting the much-needed minutes.
Dendoncker has played four Pro League matches so far, including being named captain for three of those games, with his team sitting fourth in the league. Anderlecht beat Standard Liege at the weekend, but their skipper was absent through illness.
Samuel Iling-Junior, joined Bologna on a season-long loan – Villa will face Bologna in the Champions League after the international break, but their loan signing isn’t getting the minutes that he wants.
Samuel Illing-Junior is yet to start a match, but he did come off the bench last month to score a stoppage-time goal against Cesc Fabregas’ FC Como.
Enzo Barrenechea, season-loan loan at Valencia – Some were left surprised when Villa allowed Enzo Barrenechea to leave on loan to Valencia, but it was to develop the 23-year-old’s game.
Barrenechea hasn’t done much wrong at Valencia, but nor is he stealing the limelight because it has been a steady start for him, with two starts – against Girona and Osasuna – where they kept clean sheets.
Lewis Dobbin, at West Brom until the end of the season – Only 87 Championship minutes for Villa’s signing from Everton. West Brom coach Carlos Corberán doesn’t like to make changes to his XI, but his team haven’t won in their last three.
Hopefully, this will open the door for Dobbin to earn more starts for the promotion hopefuls when players return to action in a few weeks.
Kaine Kesler-Hayden, on-loan at Preston North End – Villa’s academy star was signed by Ryan Lowe, but after one Championship match, he left, which doesn’t help anyone’s cause.
But with Paul Heckingbottom now through the door, Kaine Kesler-Hayden is now starting to show his true worth, including assisting as Preston beat in-form Watford 3-0 a fortnight ago and then kept a clean sheet against Burnley at the weekend.
Alex Moreno, season-long loan at Nottingham Forest – Many Villa fans will tell you that Alex Moreno was outstanding when he was fit and firing for the club.
Unfortunately, injuries stalled his ride and he found himself third-choice, moving to Forest, where he is really flourishing for one of the surprise packages of the new season.
From locking down Mohamed Salah at Anfield as Forest beat Liverpool 1-0 to help his team record a point at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, the 31-year-old is really shining and it won’t surprise his fans back in B6.
Who has a future at Aston Villa?
Even though Moreno hasn’t done much wrong, you presume, he will permanently move on because Unai Emery now has Digne and Maatsen to pick from.
You can’t see a future for Dendocker and he is a signing, brought in by Steven Gerrard, that just hasn’t worked.
READ MORE: Aston Villa goalkeeper ‘unable to join’ international team alongside Ezri Konsa
The likes of Dobbin and Kesler-Hayden are in the same boat, a lot will depend on how they fair in the Championship, but the competition at Villa Park is probably too strong for them to break into.
But fans are hoping Barrenechea and Iling-Junior are part of the squad next season because there was long-term thinking to their signings.
