Aston Villa's Jaden Philogene stance may turn heads at Sheffield United and Burnley | OneFootball

Jaden Philogene could be available on loan from Aston Villa this month, which will surely have turned Burnley and Sheffield United heads.

Jaden Philogene's transfer saga in the most-recent transfer window was one of the stories of the summer in the Championship, but he could be set to leave Aston Villa in the January transfer window once more.

Philogene graduated from the Aston Villa academy after signing as a 15-year-old in January 2018 from the Pro:Direct Academy in London, but his first-team chances at Villa were limited. However, he still signed his first professional contract and then spent time on loan in the Championship.

After stints with the likes of Stoke City and Cardiff City, he eventually signed permanently for Hull City. Philogene's innate creative flair was otherworldly at times for the tigers, who eventually reaped all the rewards - and then some - as they narrowly missed out on the play-offs in 2023/24.

Given the winger's impact at Hull in just one season, combined with the Tigers' failed play-off bid under Liam Rosenior last term, it was inevitable that interest in the 22-year-old would be strong from an array of suitors. It came just 10 months after Philogene was acquired for a £5 million fee on Deadline Day in August 2023 from Aston Villa.

However, with Unai Emery's men holding a buy-back clause in the deal, there was always a chance that they would action it, but it only became active if Hull featured in a different division to the West Midlands outfit.

Jaden Philogene's Aston Villa future following return from Hull

As interest from the likes of Everton, Ipswich Town and most bizarrely, Barcelona, came to the fore, the Villans activated their "matching-rights" clause which saw them agree the Tractor Boys' fee of £18 million for his services. But, as a result of a 30% sell-on-clause included in Philogene's previous sale to the East Yorkshire side, the hot commodity eventually signed a five-year deal back at Villa Park for the reduced figure of just £13 million.

The promising winger still has plenty of time to develop considering he's only 22 at this point, and his former club were always likely to make a move to re-sign him this summer after failing to gain promotion with Hull.

Philogene, alongside Jacob Greaves, was unquestionably the highest-valued asset on the books at the MKM Stadium heading into the summer, given his performances last campaign under Rosenior, as well as the potential the winger can achieve in the years to come.

He has so far featured in 15 games for Villa in all competitions, albeit with just four starts to his name in that time. The electric winger has not contributed to a single goal in that time, with Villa now keen to increase his minutes and game time to develop him further this season through a loan deal.

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Burnley and Sheffield United should eye a deal for Philogene on loan

You would imagine that the nine or ten clubs realistically capable of finishing inside the Championship's top six, and especially those targeting an automatic finish, such as Sheffield United, Burnley, Leeds United, Sunderland, and Middlesbrough, will be identifying the January transfer window as a strong opportunity to source additional bodies, and some of them may well be looking at Philogene on loan.

He is a remarkably two-footed winger, meaning he can go either way with ease and be deployed on either flank. Philogene also strikes cleanly through the ball with very little back lift, whilst also possessing the direct dribbling ability one-on-one and pace to tie his full-back in knots.

It is perhaps why he managed so many goals and assists last term, with his haul in part down to the fact Philogene can go down the line to cut the ball back, or inside to shoot, using either of his feet. The winger's contributions were vital to Hull's play-off bid, helping them to pick up crucial points that allowed them to remain in the promotion mix.

He is proven Championship quality, which would be gold dust to have on loan. That is especially pertinent for Sheffield United. Right now, it's easy to argue that Chris Wilder needs additional options on the left-hand side. They e extremely well-stocked some areas of the pitch, of course, but their options in wide areas are rather thin.

That has been so much so that Gus Hamer and Callum O'Hare — two central/attacking midfielders nominally — have been forced to fill in wide-left this season. It also explains their interest in Ben Brereton Diaz and Louie Barry presently, but Philogene's proven quality would make plenty of sense too for a team so devoid of out-and-out wingers.

Burnley should also be at the front of the queue for Philogene's services this month, given that firepower is where Scott Parker's side are lacking currently. They have the most clean sheets and the fewest goals in the league, but Josh Brownhill is the only player to have contributed to more than five goals (12) in the squad this season.

Jaidon Anthony has shown glimpses of his quality and productivity but goals and assists are required, which is exactly what Philogene brings to the table in abundance at second tier level. Burnley have more wide attacking options than the Blades right now, but both are the ideal destinations for a player Villa need to be confident of getting required starts from.