Bologna are reportedly on the verge of bringing former Juventus starlet Samuel Iling-Junior back to Serie A on a season-long loan. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Aston Villa have agreed to let the versatile winger join the Rossoblu to secure regular first-team football and gain more experience.
It’s been a transitional summer for Bologna after miraculously securing Champions League qualification under Thiago Motta last season. Standout performers Joshua Zirkzee and Riccardo Calafiori left Renato Dall’Ara, with Thijs Dallinga arriving from Toulouse to replace the former.
With Bologna deciding against turning Alexis Saelemaekers’ loan move from Milan permanent, there’s a gap on the wing. Vincenzo Italiano’s men are looking to fill it with Iling-Junior, who linked up with Aston Villa in July as part of a complex swap deal with Juventus.
Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea moved to Birmingham to accommodate Douglas Luiz’s switch to Turin. However, he will not play for Unai Emery’s team this season. Instead, he’s about to return to Serie A, with Bologna closing in on an agreement with Aston Villa.
A lack of squad depth would be a massive issue for Bologna now that they’re about to return to European football. Therefore, Iling-Junior’s comeback makes sense, especially as Italiano hopes to keep the Rossoblu in the top-four picture in Serie A this term.
Bologna couldn’t convert their dominant performance against Udinese on the opening weekend, drawing 1-1 at home despite boasting an eye-catching 74% possession and 22 attempts on goal. They’ll look to make amends when they meet Napoli on Sunday.
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