Tony Xia: Time to forget Aston Villa's Jonathan Kodjia talk
Aston Villa owner Tony Xia has demanded a halt to speculation over the future of Jonathan Kodjia after reports Premier League clubs are eyeing the striker.
Reports over the weekend claimed both Everton and Stoke were looking into the availability of the Ivory Coast international, who has netted 19 times for Villa after joining from Bristol City in a deal worth £15million last September.
Kodjia's form has caught the attention of potential top flight suitors but Villa boss Steve Bruce has already promised the club will "do their utmost" to keep him.
Xia then yesterday responded to the weekend's stories on Twitter, calling for an end to talk of the striker leaving the club.
"No more rumors (sic), we need stability and calmness in dressing room," he said. "Don't like either medias or agents' trick/game for now."
Kodjia has scored eight goals in his last eight games as Villa have climbed into the top half of the Championship table. He needs one more before the end of the season to become the club's first striker since Peter Withe in 1981 to score 20 in a league campaign.
