Kosta Nedeljković (foto: Getty Images)
RB Leipzig postpone decision on signing Kosta Nedeljković permanently from Aston Villa, awaiting new head coach before reshaping transfer strategy.
Kosta Nedeljković’s future remains uncertain as RB Leipzig have decided to put his permanent transfer on hold, despite having a deadline until June 1 to trigger the €10.5 million buy option agreed with Aston Villa.
The Serbian right-back joined Leipzig on loan during the winter transfer window and gradually integrated into the team, first under Marco Rose, then earning regular starts under interim boss Zsolt Löw. He made seven consecutive Bundesliga starts and received praise from the coaching staff. However, his absence in the final round defeat to Stuttgart, which saw Leipzig miss out on European qualification, has cast doubt over the club's transfer plans.
After a disappointing season—marked by an early Champions League exit and a chaotic finish to the Bundesliga campaign—Leipzig’s transfer strategy has been frozen until a new head coach is appointed. Failed approaches for Oliver Glasner and Cesc Fàbregas have left the club still searching for a long-term managerial solution.
As a result, Nedeljković's future is on standby. The club will only move forward with player purchases once the new manager gives the green light.
Meanwhile, returning to Aston Villa seems unlikely. Unai Emery prefers Matty Cash as his first-choice right-back, while Andrés García was added in January, and even Axel Disasi, on loan from Chelsea, was occasionally used in that position. Nedeljković remains under contract with Villa until 2029, but a clear path into the Premier League side's plans doesn’t appear to exist at the moment.