Town boss Kieran McKenna says the deal to sign Jaden Philogene is not yet complete as far as he’s aware.

The 22-year-old was at the club yesterday and we understand passed his medical with the clubs having agreed a fee of £22 million plus add-ons on Wednesday. The player has agreed a four-and-a-half-year deal.

Asked about the situation, McKenna said: “There’s nothing to say, really. He’s an Aston Villa player first and foremost and there’s no deal or completion, as far as I’m aware at the moment. Until that changes, or if that changes, I’m sure the club will announce.”

Philogene won't now be available for the Blues for Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Bristol Rovers with the deadline for him to have signed today having passed.

Asked whether he expected any ins or outs before the weekend, McKenna said: “You never know. Things can move sometimes a bit quicker than what you expect and sometimes a bit slower than what you expect.

“It's not really where my focus is at the moment. It's on the group, and we've had a good week's training, getting ready not just for Bristol, but we know the turnaround after this game is pretty quick for Brighton and then Man City as well. 

“So we've had a good week's training and a good focus and we're looking forward to Sunday and what's coming up next.”

Regarding the Blues’ interest in 19-year-old Liverpool forward Ben Doak, who is on loan at Middlesbrough, McKenna kept his cards close to his chest.

“No, again a Liverpool player on loan at Middlesbrough, so no comment from us on that.”

Photo: IMAGO/Pro Sports Images via Reuters Connect

EatonBlue added 16:17 - Jan 10 Waiting for a better offer from whoever is the new Everton boss.
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 16:30 - Jan 10 Good business means fair to both sides, and respect in how it is handled. I agree with positive comments regarding Mr Ashtons character and business sense. He will sign for us if it is good business.
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Linkboy13 added 16:30 - Jan 10 Must admit im not over excited about this signing 22 million pounds is a lot of money for someone unproven in the Premier league a loan deal would be more beneficial but i think Villa are desperate to get rid of him.
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BobbyBell added 16:34 - Jan 10 Probably the agent holding things up as usual. Personally I don't think his agent did him any favours last time. The player needs to chose between big money sitting on a bench or actually playing football. I know which the agent is more likely to chose.
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BobbyBell added 16:34 - Jan 10 Probably the agent holding things up as usual. Personally I don't think his agent did him any favours last time. The player needs to chose between big money sitting on a bench or actually playing football. I know which the agent is more likely to chose.
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chepstowblue added 16:42 - Jan 10 Is he really worth all the bother ?!!
5

gsoly added 16:48 - Jan 10 Genuine question - where is the bother? We live in a world of 24 hour rolling news, instant gratification. This is a near-club record deal, and it's clear that there is no need to worry about it not happening. The fee's agreed, the contract is agreed, the medical is complete. I think everyone should relax, personally.
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Jeff added 17:00 - Jan 10 mmm, this is what happened last time! He must be on first name terms with our medical staff!
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scooby added 17:07 - Jan 10 Everton probably
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Steelmonkey added 17:15 - Jan 10 I thought that we dodged a bullet with this one last time with the way it dragged on and ultimately not to our advantage, my view hasn’t really changed much especially as he hasn’t made much of an impression in the last 6 months at Villa.
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budgieplucker added 17:19 - Jan 10 Surely not another Michael Jacob’s type scenario where he had a medical and awaiting for paperwork to be completed and low and behold an alternative deal materialised and the last moment to get Kyle Edwards and we did the dirty on Jacob’s. I.e. enter Ben Doak. Personally I hardly doubt that is the case but if Philogene agent has been playing silly bu99ers who knows!!!

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Stato added 17:21 - Jan 10 Apparently he has passed the medical and the delay is just admin. Sone deals happen quicker than others
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Cakeman added 17:27 - Jan 10 A sign of the times. Transfers must be extremely complicated these days with numerous clauses and milestones set in them. No different to any other business I guess. It does seem as though Town, Villa and player are in agreement but wouldn’t want to guess where the hold up is?
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ImAbeliever added 17:56 - Jan 10 Someone having their leg up!
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dirtydingusmagee added 17:56 - Jan 10 Got my doubts ,i said in another post weve wasted enough time with this player , as poet said its beggining to smell ,again.Ashton is no mug so we will see soon . .
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dirtydingusmagee added 17:59 - Jan 10 Eatonblue down vote was clumsy i agree with you .
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Leejames99 added 18:08 - Jan 10 My Goodness, being negative about a player we are about to sign who only arrived for medical yesterday, no need be so demanding and chastise a player before he is even signed, if you were about to sign a deal for a new job and were getting slated before you started you would run a mile. All this Villa didn't want him, he hadn't played, isn't match fit, it's nonsense. All this was just Aston Villa making good business, they let an academy player go for 6 million, he excelled, stock went up, 18 mill accepted so they used their trump card to buy him back, wait 6 months then sell him to make 21 million instead of 6 for a homegrown player, that is really clever business all round but I'm pretty sure now there will be no buy back or sell on, he will be our player and our asset and that will take time. Patience is a virtue all. COYB

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urbanpenguin added 18:16 - Jan 10 I spend longer properly checking everything when I'm buying a toaster, let alone if I was spending £22m - so I'm not surprised these things take a while.
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Rimsy added 18:21 - Jan 10 Not as simple as just signing. Got to negotiate what happens if we're relegated, wage reduction, release clause and value etc.
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RobsonWark added 19:14 - Jan 10 I think his agent is still trying to get Real Madrid to sign him.
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RobsonWark added 19:16 - Jan 10 or was it Barcelona?
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warktheline added 20:42 - Jan 10 Not impressed whatsoever
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algarvefan added 22:17 - Jan 10 Someone asked me what was happening, how the hell would I know!!!! To much power with these agents, who only care about money!!
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Bluesince92 added 23:56 - Jan 10 Can we also go and sign deli ali he's training with como but I'm sure Mckenna could revive his career having known him at Tottenham im sure
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Dissboyitfc added 09:15 - Jan 11 I have my doubts on whether this is going to happen, but of course i am in the dark like most people. So why bother with a medical until everything is agreed. But its nearly mid Jan and i dont thinkwe should waste too much time on this, we pursuid Broja for far too long, where in my opinion we dodged a bullet but potentially that pursuit cost us getting in that much needed striker! Again this is conjecture but if Philogene is anything less than 100% committed and desperate to join us i would tell him to do one! Maybe its us holding out for someone better and i am barking up the wrong tree! Who knows, but hopefully soon we will have an answer!

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