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With reports surfacing claiming Aston Villa striker Jonathan Kodjia is attracting interest from Turkish side Besiktas, this transfer would seem to make sense for all involved. 

Kodjia, 30, arrived in the West Midlands from Bristol City in 2016, and impressed in his debut season for the club, scoring 19 goals in 45 Championship appearances.

Villa fans would have been forgiven for believing they had found a forward capable of replicating the attacking output that Christian Benteke had provided in B6 prior to the Belgian’s £32.5m departure to Liverpool, but injuries have plagued the striker’s time at Villa Park and consequently the exit door in January represents a solution to a growing problem for the club.

Kodjia has made just two substitute appearances in the Premier League so far this season, and with reports suggesting a move for Alfredo Morelos of Rangers could be in the pipeline, freeing up the 30-year-old’s wages for a younger, less injury-prone striker makes perfect sense for Dean Smith.

If the Ivorian had managed to maintain his fitness levels and deliver a similar level of performance as was evidenced in his debut season with the club, then Kodjia could well have become one of Villa’s most reliable goalscorers in the modern era.

Yet, at a time when the club are looking to progress and consolidate their status in the top-flight, players such as Kodjia who have been unable to really challenge for a regular starting berth are a luxury that the newly-promoted side cannot afford. Everybody needs to be pushing for places and keeping the regulars on their toes. 

For Kodjia, meanwhile, Turkey represents a chance to relaunch his career in a less challenging league provided he can avoid further injury setbacks. Besiktas, of course, would be getting a player who has piqued their interest and having scored just 14 times after eleven top flight games this season, they could certainly do with a dose of extra firepower arriving mid-season. 

All in all, the striker’s departure from B6 is a move that truly does make sense for all concerned.