Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has explained why he has agreed to sell forward Jaden Philogene to the Blues only six months after re-signing the 22-year-old from Hull City.

Philogene’s move to the Blues from Villa is expected to be confirmed today, the clubs having agreed a fee of £20 million plus add-ons yesterday and the player a four-and-a-half-year deal.

Emery, who brought Philogene back to Villa Park in the summer a year after selling him to the Tigers for £5 million, says he remains a fan of the England U21 international despite allowing him to join the Blues.

“I explained it, I believe in Jaden Philogene, but we are, of course, always trying to get the best for the club, for the squad, the team and the players,” he said. “If he is leaving, it is because it is good for those three options.”

Philogene made only three starts - two in the Premier League - and 11 sub appearances for Villa.

Elsewhere, Everton have sacked manager Sean Dyche and his staff, Ian Woan, Steve Stone, Mark Howard and Billy Mercer.

U18s coach Leighton Baines and club captain Seamus Coleman have been put in charge on an interim basis while the Toffees search for a new boss.

Everton are currently 16th in the Premier League, two places and one point ahead of the Blues having played a game fewer.

TWTD

Saxonblue74 added 17:02 - Jan 9 Please Everton, Appoint Mr Rooney!!!
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Tampa_Florida_Blue added 17:05 - Jan 9 Step up an ex Everton manger David Moyes
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dirtydingusmagee added 17:15 - Jan 9 Saxon aka the Joker
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Woolfenthen added 17:22 - Jan 9 isn't that 4 options??
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SouperJim added 17:31 - Jan 9 I'm sure that making £7m profit, plus add-ons, in the space of just 1 transfer window had something to do with it...
18

Bazza8564 added 17:32 - Jan 9 iNteresting times at Villa, in the summer they were prepared to invest in this young guy's future, 6 months later with teh champions league KO rounds in sight their focus is shifting to higher more immediate impact players so Im gonna be interested to see who they go after. It's a bonus for us though, we continue to invest in young talent with an eye on the future and I suspect there will be more to come yet Shame about Dyche, i think hes a good man but everybody bar us has now hit the panic button. we live in interesting times

13

OldFart71 added 17:44 - Jan 9 Interesting to see that out of the bottom 8 clubs KM is the only manager still at his club since 2024. It's sad really because even those towards the top of the league or those expected to be near the top will still move their managers on and if you are at or near the bottom then you have very little chance to stay in your job. KM is still at ITFC because it wasn't expected for us to be in the Premier League so soon. There's certainly no call from supporters for him to go and the players and staff have every faith in him.

6

FelixBlue4 added 18:01 - Jan 9 As we should have faith in him, if we were getting beat with no clear game plan or poor leadership then yes you could ask questions. KMc has made the odd mistake but he learns and there is a clear plan which he and the club are developing together. I’m happy to have him here even if we go down but I believe like never before that we have enough about us to survive.
5

Beattiesballbag added 18:10 - Jan 9 SouperJim, It's only 3 million plus add-ons extra they are making. You have to allow for the 30% they would have received if we had got him from Hull.
1

Beattiesballbag added 18:16 - Jan 9 S -
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Rimsy added 18:18 - Jan 9 Why doesn't he just say, that in Villa's interest financially it was the correct thing to do.
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Beattiesballbag added 18:18 - Jan 9 Sorry 2 million if the fee was 20 million.
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Gforce added 18:25 - Jan 9 Just mentioned on Anglia news,he is having his medical tomorrow, I'm baffled is it today or tomorrow??
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warwickblue added 18:42 - Jan 9 Gforce- You know what the queues are like at the doctors' at the moment.......
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churchmans added 18:44 - Jan 9 @souperjim & @beatties ball bag Aston villa made £15million pound profit They made £5m selling to hull then bought him back on a clause £15m they also got 30% off that(15m-30%= 4.5mill off) Sold to us for 20m means they made 15mill
0

SmithersJones added 19:06 - Jan 9 @Churchmans, yes but in buying him back from Hull and then selling him to us they’ve only made £2m more than if we’d have signed him in the summer. This is a bad bit of business all told for Villa. Firstly they realised they’d undersold him to Hull given how much his value appreciated. Then, for the extra two million, they’ve used up a squad place, paid him 6 months’ salary plus presumably signing on fees etc, and now if they want to buy a replacement they’re shopping in the January window, a notorious seller’s market. If they break even on it they’ll be doing well.

1

Edmundo added 19:14 - Jan 9 Does it count as "pure profit" in PSR terms if they sell him a second time?
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Cadiar added 19:15 - Jan 9 A nothing statement from Emery, this was just a financial exercise making Villa a few mill. Doubt much consideration given to Philogene, he was just a pawn in Villa's conniving antics. Hope it comes back to bite them & he gets a goal or 2 against them.
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littlestoneblue added 21:22 - Jan 9 He's still a bit lightweight so we have to build a bit more muscle for his protection against heavy-weight fullbacks, build up the speed to get him lightening quick will also help I just hope Villa haven't dented his confidence
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Tractorog added 21:39 - Jan 9 Because he came through their youth system they will be able to claim the whole £20m against FFP rules I think, not just the £7m. Normally you'd offset the cost of a player but I think that even though they bought hom of Hull they get the whole £20m
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Beattiesballbag added 21:46 - Jan 9 Churchmans, If you read the posts....... neither of us were talking about how much they have made on selling him to Hull, Souperjim was only talking about what they make on this sale, I was pointing out it wasn't that much if you take in consideration the 30% they would have received had we got him from Hull...... & I think you will find it was it was 18 million we agreed with Hull not 15, so if you grab a calculater & subtract 18 from 20 that leaves you with 2 plus add-ons...........on This sale.

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Linkboy13 added 22:41 - Jan 9 He didn't come up to the standard required for a top six premier club.
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bobble added 23:08 - Jan 9 Smart business move by villa....
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Marinersnose added 11:05 - Jan 10 Emery hardly explained anything. I felt he was slightly awkward answering the question. Good business for villla and good addition for us.
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