Dan Bardell thrilled as Aston Villa confirm Kosta Nedeljkovic January signing from Red Star Belgrade at Villa Park

On Monday, January 22, Villa revealed on their website that the 18-year-old right-back has signed with them and that he will play the remainder of the season on loan for the Serbian team. On January 15, Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano tweeted that the Villans had been scouting the Serbian U-19 international for a “long time,” and that the fee would be roughly €9 million (£7.7 million).

Before announcing Nedeljkovic’s signing, Bardell disclosed that the team had been considering young right-backs in La Liga; yet, he acknowledged that the transaction “excites” him.

Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell said: “I kind of like that Villa are looking towards the future and are buying players now that aren’t necessarily for now. I think that’s what good teams do.

“It seems that Brighton’s hiring practices are definitely the modern standard, as evidenced by the fact that, during the last two or three years, their hiring has been extraordinary.

“I believe it’s OK to select an 18-year-old who plays football in the Champions League and is already a member of Red Star’s first team. I am aware that Villa has been considering this position in an attempt to acquire a young, promising right-back in the near future to challenge Matty Cash.

“They’ve been looking in La Liga to try and find someone and, obviously, haven’t come up with anything of substance and now they’ve pulled in this guy.

I don’t usually watch the Serbian league, but he seems like a really good prospect. He’s already played in a couple of elite matches; he played Manchester City in the Champions League.

“The future is the main emphasis of this signing. After the season is over, he will rejoin Red Star, and Villa will evaluate his preseason performance.That being said, I’m more excited about the type of signing than I am with my actual familiarity with him. After Savo Milosevic and Sasa Curcic, he seems to be the third Serbian player to play for Villa.

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