Left-back discarded by Aston Villa boss Unai Emery completes another transfer

Former Aston Villa loanee Ludwig Augustinsson has joined Anderlecht on loan, his third move in a year

Former Aston Villa full-back Ludwig Augustinsson has completed another departure from La Liga side Sevilla this summer and has signed for Belgian side RSC Anderlecht on a season-long loan deal.

Augustinsson, 29, joined Villa last summer under Steven Gerrard as cover and competition for Lucas Digne after Matt Targett departed permanently for Newcastle United, but his loan spell was swiftly cut short in January when Unai Emery first had the opportunity to address the squad he’d inherited.

Emery recruited Alex Moreno to compete with Digne and cut short the loans of Augustinsson and Jan Bednarek of Southampton, while moving out the likes of Danny Ings, Morgan Sanson and Frederic Guilbert. Augustinsson played just three Premier League games in a loan spell which wasn’t helped by an injury he sustained last October.

The Swedish international, who has more than 50 caps for his country, was immediately loaned out to Real Mallorca in the second half of last season, but he encountered similar problems that he had at Villa Park and played just four league games.

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For the third time in the space of 12 months, though, Augustinsson has left Sevilla on loan and has joined Anderlecht, who finished 11th in the Belgian top flight last season. Augustinsson will play this year with Tottenham and Belgium legend Jan Vertonghen.

“Ludwig is an experienced full back that has played in nearly all the big leagues,” Anderlecht said. “His addition to the squad will increase the competition. He’s ready to have a direct impact on the pitch, but he’ll also put his experience to good use off the pitch by guiding some of our young talents like Moussa N’Diaye.”

Deal complete’: Aston Villa officially announce another signing of talented player he has already bid his team mate goodbye from……..

Aston Villa are closing in on yet another outstanding signing in what has been an outstanding summer on the transfer front.

The Villans have already landed Youri Tielemans, Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby, world-class players who have been in demand.

Indeed, Diaby reportedly turned down a move to the Saudi Pro League to join Villa. That is testament to the Villans’ pull at present.

Now, Villa are set to make another high-profile signing in Italy international Nicolo Zaniolo.

Multiple outlets and sources have claimed that the Villans have struck a deal with Galatasaray over the 24-year-old.

According to the Birmingham Mail, Villa have agreed a £25million package with them for Zaniolo to join on an initial loan.

Indeed, head coach Okan Buruk has confirmed that Zaniolo “wants to play in the Premier League and we respect that”.

‘Everything is agreed now’

Fabrizio Romano, speaking to GiveMeSport, has now claimed that Villa’s deal for the Italian could be completed by today.

“Let’s see because they now are going to close the Zaniolo deal on Wednesday,” he said.

“This is going to be completed because the agreement with Galatasaray is done.

“It’s a loan with a buy option which could become mandatory during the season under certain conditions.

“The discussion was a bit long with Galatasaray on how to activate the clause, but everything is agreed now.

“The player will travel on Wednesday for medical tests and to sign the contract.”

Credit to Aston Villa for making all the right moves in the summer transfer window.

Zaniolo is a top player who’s yet to reach his prime. He has earned compliments from fans, managers and peers for most of his career.

The attacking talent has been deemed ‘extraordinary‘, a ‘world star‘, and a ‘game-breaking freak of nature‘.

Admittedly, Zaniolo’s injury record over the years has been a bit worrying, but last season he was fine for the most part.

If all goes well, this could be a bargain for Villa in signing such an outstanding player for such a modest fee. And that will be further down the line, not now.