'Surprise' - What Unai Emery has said about Jaden Philogene as Aston Villa target reunion

Unai Emery was surprised by Jaden Philogene in pre-season last summer, but reluctantly accepted his transfer request for more regular game time elsewhere.

After two loan spells in the Championship before his permanent move to Hull City, it was make or break time for Philogene at Villa last summer, but perhaps it had been forgotten that he has the qualities to add something different to Emery's squad. While Leon Bailey was given an extended break after representing Jamaica at the Gold Cup, Philogene was afforded the opportunity to stake a claim for his place in the side next season.

After winning a penalty in the club's first pre-season match, against Walsall, the winger also impressed against Newcastle on the right wing at the Lincoln Financial Field, before then scoring the opening goal against Fulham. Philogene started his fourth consecutive game against Brentford and continued to prove to Emery why he deserved to stick around.

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However, following the big money arrival of Moussa Diaby, Philogene knew his chances were going to be limited, even if the club played over 50 games.

"Jaden is the more positive surprise we are seeing," Emery said in the USA last summer. "That’s the reason why he started the three matches and played well. He has offers to leave but at the moment we are going to stay with him and going to decide, but if he stays he has possibilities and potential in our squad."

The 22-year-old moved to Championship club Hull for £5m, with the deal including a clause allowing Villa to match any future offers from Premier League clubs. That option has now been triggered after Ipswich bid £18m for Philogene earlier this week.

Asked about why Villa sold Philogene, Emery said: "Jaden started training with us last year at the end of the season, he started in the pre-season, and we were analysing him. I was very happy with him and we decided to let him to leave because we have an offer, a very good offer for him and because we are thinking to play regularly here is going to be more difficult than going again in another club.

"Of course, we are going to follow him and we are going to be aware as well of how he's developing, but we are very demanding in our squad, in our decision to keep players here. We want to be competitive in every competition we are going to face."

It is now down to Philogene to decide where he goes next, while Everton and Crystal Palace have also registered their interest. But there is still plenty of competition in the forward areas of Emery's squad, as much as there was last summer when Philogene decided to leave.

The winger scored 12 goals and had six assists in 32 Championship appearances last season and was unlucky not to be named among the nominees for Championship player of the season.

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