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Tiago Ilori’s Liverpool fate lies in the hands of new Aston Villa boss Remi Garde.

The Portuguese centre-back has endured a wretched start to his season-long loan in the Midlands - increasing the chances that he will return to Anfield next summer.

Ilori, who has been hampered by an ankle injury in recent weeks, has yet to make a single first team appearance for Villa and has only played once for their U21s against Brighton, where he played in defensive midfield.

Liverpool received a £1million loan fee for Ilori on deadline day in September with Villa negotiating the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.

The fee if Villa want to keep Ilori will be between £6million and £9million depending on the number of appearances he makes this term.

However, as it stands there is little prospect of Villa wanting to buy the London-born 22-year-old. Whether that situation changes over the coming months depends on whether Ilori can force his way into Garde’s plans.

The former Lyon boss recently replaced Tim Sherwood, who was sacked after Villa slumped to the bottom of the Premier League table.

Ilori currently sixth choice centre back at Villa

Ilori was named in Villa’s 25-man Premier League squad list but has not even made the bench so far this season.

Centre-backs Micah Richards, Joleon Lescott, Jores Okore, Jose Angel Crespo and Ciaran Clark are all currently ahead of him in the pecking order.

Sherwood had spoken about the need for Ilori to toughen up before he was ready to play Premier League football.

“He has played in four different countries now so he has had a rounded upbringing,” he said.

“He has seen different styles of player, he is very cultured. I’m just trying to get into him the fact that sometimes in the Premier League you have to get your shorts dirty. It can’t always be pretty and nice.”

Villa’s pursuit of Ilori was led by head of recruitment Paddy Riley, who worked as Liverpool’s scouting co-ordinator for two years prior to joining Villa in September 2014.

Sunderland were also keen on Ilori but the defender snubbed the chance to move to the Stadium of Light and opted for Villa instead.

Liverpool’s centre-back options have been depleted by injuries to both Joe Gomez and Mamadou Sakho but the Reds can’t recall Ilori.

He didn’t make a first-team appearance for Liverpool following his £7million transfer from Sporting Lisbon two years ago.

He was an unused substitute on three occasions in 2013/14 before heading out on loan to Granada. He spent last season on loan at Bordeaux where he made a dozen league appearances for the French outfit.

Brendan Rodgers deemed him surplus to requirements and the only way he will resume his Reds career is if Villa send him back and opt against buying him. That would then raise the possibility of Ilori starting pre-season under Jurgen Klopp next July.