Aston Villa selling Jonathan Kodjia would leave Dean Smith in a very precarious predicament

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to Turkish outlet Orta Cizgi, Super Lig side Besiktas are pursuing Aston Villa striker Jonathan Kodjia before the end of their transfer window.

What’s the word?

The Europa League participants are reportedly after Kodjia with Turkish clubs still being able to do transfer business this month.

It is believed that the 6 foot 2 forward would welcome a move to Besiktas after the arrival of club-record signing Wesley Moraes meant that he would only be a backup option again this season.

Kodjia cost the club an initial £11m back in the summer of 2016 when he joined from Championship side Bristol City – he has since gone on to make 98 appearances at the club, scoring 29 goals.

Over the last two seasons, the 29-year-old has had rather split game time, starting 31 matches and coming off the bench in 28 more – in their Premier League opener against Spurs, he was given just 16 minutes to make his mark.

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Risky business

Although the Ivory Coast international isn’t the first name on the team sheet, his role throughout the season shouldn’t be underestimated.

If he were to leave it would give manager Dean Smith just one senior striker and one backup whose exposure to the men’s game has been rather minimal.

Wesley will be Villa’s main man this season after joining in a £22m deal from Club Brugge but if he struggles to adapt to the English game or any injuries or suspensions hit him, then that would leave Smith in a very uneasy position.

Only Keinan Davis would be available to fill that spot – the 21-year-old has played 44 times in the claret and blue but was limited to just six substitute appearances during their playoff-winning campaign last season.

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Villa also sent Scott Hogan out on a season-long loan to Championship outfit Stoke City so you’d surely think Smith isn’t open to selling Kodjia this month having failed to bring in another striker during the summer.

The 48-year-old would be playing a very risky game if he were to offload the backup striker, even if the Ivorian does want to make the switch to Turkey.