Aston Villa midfielder Leander Dendoncker joins Napoli on loan ‘with a £7.7m buy option’ until the end of the season after making just ONE Premier League start for Unai Emery’s side this term

Leander Dendoncker has joined Napoli on loan for the rest of the season as the Belgian looks to help his new club rescue a desperately poor Scudetto defence. 

Dendoncker had played a liminal role for Aston Villa this season, featuring in 15 games for Unai Emery‘s side and scoring once, coming at Old Trafford against Manchester United. 

However, of those 15 games just one has been a start in the Premier League, and still has two-and-a-half years left on his deal, signed on deadline day in 2022. 

The Belgian is thought to have a £7.7million buy clause in his deal to make the move permanent. 

Napoli are ninth in Serie, albeit only three points off the top four, and are looking to get their season back on track. 

Although the Belgian made 15 appearances this term for Villa, he only started one Premier League game

He arrives at a Napoli side that are struggling in the wake of their sensational Serie A win last term in ninth place

Villa are plentifully stocked at the heart of midfield, with Douglaz Luiz, John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, and Nicolo Zaniolo ahead of Dendoncker in the pecking order. 

Dendoncker, a 32-time Belgian international, has had a decent Premier League career and accumulated good European experience in his stints with Anderlecht, Wolves, and Villa. 

Villa will need to let players go this month having splashed out in the summer window, bringing in the likes of Tielemans, Zaniolo, Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby. 

Calum Chambers and Bertrand Traore, who have both played minor roles in Villa’s stunning Premier League campaign this season, are among those allowed to leave Villa Park. 

Emery’s side are also monitoring a move for Norwich’s Jonathan Rowe, who has 12 goals and two assists in 27 Championship appearances this term. 

Having risen through the academy ranks at Norwich, the 20-year-old made his debut for the Canaries back in 2021 and his performances have garnered him the attention of both Villa and Crystal Palace.

He also enjoyed a dream debut for the England U21 side, coming on to score during their 9-1 victory against Serbia in October.

Villa are also in talks for Middlesbrough’s Morgan Rogers, and have already had two offers rejected by the Championship side.