Aston Villa's Permanent Sale Hopes Fade for Serbian Defender
Aston Villa's prospects of securing a permanent €10 million transfer for defender Kosta Nedeljkovic are now considered slim, according to a major report from Germany. The 19-year-old Serbian, currently on loan at RB Leipzig, has endured a challenging spell hampered by injury and limited playing time, casting significant doubt over the Bundesliga club's intention to make the move permanent next summer.
Injury and Lack of Game Time Deter Leipzig
German newspaper Bild has revealed that the key factors behind this reluctance are Nedeljkovic's fitness and his position in the squad. The young right-back has been sidelined for the last seven matches with a knee injury and is only now on the cusp of a return to full training. Even prior to this setback, his opportunities were scarce, managing just two substitute appearances for Leipzig this season, amassing a mere 11 minutes on the pitch.
The report indicates that with Ridle Baku firmly established as the club's first-choice right-back, Leipzig's sporting director, Marcel Schäfer, is now unlikely to exercise the purchase option at the end of the current campaign. This development is a blow to Villa's plans of offloading the player for a significant fee after he initially joined the club from Red Star Belgrade in the summer of 2024, following an agreement the previous January.
Nedeljkovic's Mental Battle and Future Hopes
Speaking candidly about his difficult period, Nedeljkovic admitted to Bild that recovering from the injury has been a mental challenge. "That wasn't easy mentally," he confessed. "Especially having to train alone after the injury and missing four or five games. But I'm giving it my all, that's my mentality."
Demonstrating his determination to fight for his place, the Serbian international emphasised his proactive approach. "I'm not the type to settle down on the bench. I speak to the coach every day. I know he trusts me. I hope I'll get my chance in the next few months," he stated. Nedeljkovic also revealed his plan to use the upcoming international break to push for a return to the matchday squad.
Reflecting on the start of the season, he acknowledged a lesson learned about managing his body, saying, "At the start of the season, I took a knock. Despite the problems, I continued training and tried to ignore the pain. Sometimes you have to be smart, listen to your body, and not overexert yourself – even if you always want to give 100 percent."
Villa Career and Loan History
Nedeljkovic, who holds the distinction of being the 1000th player to represent Aston Villa, did see first-team action under manager Unai Emery last season. He made ten appearances, making his debut in August 2024 against West Ham and earning a start in the following home game against Arsenal. His last appearance for Villa was in January 2025, after which he was sent on loan to Leipzig for the second half of last season. He subsequently returned to the German club for the entirety of the current 2025/26 season.
