Jonathan Kodjia’s potential Aston Villa exit could derail a late play-off push

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Aston Villa face a battle to hold onto striker Jonathan Kodjia this month with a French club taking a January interest in him, according to reports in France.

French media outlet Ouest France claims that Ligue 1 side Angers are interested in bringing Kodjia back to the club.

Kodjia scored 15 goals in 28 games for Angers to earn them promotion to Ligue 1 in 2014/15, earning the Ligue 2 Player of the Year accolade.

But instead of staying with his side, he opted to move to England and join Bristol City. After scoring 20 in 48 for the Robins, Kodjia moved to Aston Villa, where he scored 19 in 36 in his debut season.

Last season was frustrating for the Ivory Coast international with just one goal to his name in an injury-ravaged campaign.

This term, Kodjia finds himself below Tammy Abraham in the pecking order and usually operates out wide when he does get a game.

But with six goals in 26 games, Kodjia has proven that he is still a useful member of this Aston Villa squad.

Dean Smith should resist the urge to sell Kodjia this month as he needs the physical attacker to play a role in a late surge for the play-offs.

Aston Villa can still turn their season around and jump from mid-table to play-off contention but without Kodjia, their back-up options are worryingly depleted.

Kodjia should be the preferred option out wide instead of struggling loan duo Anwar El Ghazi and Yannick Bolasie and he should also be first reverse behind Abraham up front.