Unai Emery is open to letting Jaden Philogene leave Aston Villa this month.

Philogene re-joined Villa from Hull City in the summer, with the Villans paying a reported £16million for the winger, who had only joined the Tigers in 2023.

However, he has managed just four starts in all competitions, making 15 appearances in total, and is yet to score or create a goal.

He has crafted only four chances for his team-mates, while he has registered shots worth only 0.54 expected goals.

Villa are in the market for a wide player this month, with links to Borussia Dortmund's Donyell Malen emerging on Thursday, and ahead of his team's clash with Leicester City on Saturday in the Premier League, Emery conceded Philogene could leave, most likely on loan, in January.

"He has potential. He didn’t show his potential the first six months being here with us, but for different circumstances," Emery said.

"He played minutes, he played some important matches, like against Bayern Munich and Manchester United.

"I believe in his potential, but it is maybe one option as well for him or for the club, because there are a lot of clubs interested in him because they believe as well in his potential.

"We are not close [to a move]. As a coach, I am not really wanting to let him leave, but we are speaking about the different options, and maybe [that] could be one option for him. 

"[He is injured. He is not available for the match [against Leicester]. My conversation always with him before, was to be patient, take time to improve things.

"For January, it could be one option for him or for the club to let him leave."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Aston Villa - Ollie Watkins

Watkins has been involved in 97 goals in 165 Premier League appearances for Aston Villa (67 goals, 30 assists).

He has both scored and assisted in a Premier League game for the 10th time in their 2-2 draw with Brighton, the most of any Villa player in the competition.

Leicester City - Jamie Vardy

Having scored five goals in his first six Premier League appearances against Villa, Leicester captain Vardy has not scored in any of his last six against the Villans in the competition.

MATCH PREDICTION: ASTON VILLA WIN

Leicester have lost each of their last four Premier League games. They last lost more consecutively in August/September 2022 (six), while they last did so while conceding 2+ goals each time in September/October 2003 (five).

Since losing their opening home Premier League game of this season against Arsenal, Villa are unbeaten in their last nine at Villa Park (W5 D4). The Villans have scored 2+ goals in 12 of their last 17 on home soil.

When playing their first league game of a calendar year at home, Villa have lost just one of their last 13 such matches (W6 D6), going down 2-0 against Swansea in 2012. This is the first time Villa are kicking off a year with a home match since 2019 (2-2 vs QPR in the Championship).

Both teams have scored in 13 of the 14 Premier League meetings between these teams at Villa Park, with the only exception being a 2-0 win for Leicester in December 2001.

Following their 2-1 win at the King Power Stadium in August, Villa are looking to complete their first league double over Leicester since 2003-04.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Aston Villa - 67.7%

Leicester City - 14.3%

Draw - 18%