Tiago Ilori is unlikely to return to Anfield following the completion of his season-long loan move to Aston Villa.
According to the Liverpool Echo, who have confirmed that the Reds will take a £1m loan fee and have given Villa the option to buy the defender next summer, Brendan Rodgers has made it clear to the 22-year-old that he will struggle for future first-team opportunities on Merseyside.
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Ilori, who has spent the last two years on loan at Granada and Bordeaux respectively, was hoping to stay with his parent club and fight for his place in the team following an impressive showing at this summer’s European Under-21 Championships. But sadly, the Portuguese has been left disappointed.
The Echo state that Villa will have to pay between £6m and £9m – dependent on the number of appearances he makes this year – should they wish to keep Ilori permanently next summer. This should at least ensure us a profit on the £7m which the Echo believe we paid for the player back in 2013, but will still leave many fans feeling underwhelmed.
Ilori has never played for Liverpool during his two years at the club, although he was an unused substitute on three occasions before jetting out for the first of his three loan spells.
What a waste.