Samuel is aiming to push his claims for Villa role

SAMUEL Iling-Junior hopes to impress this summer and force his way into Unai Emery’s plans next season.

- By JOHN TOWNLEY

The 21-year-old joined Villa from Juventus last summer in a deal worth £12 million, plus Enzo Barrenechea for £7m, in a separate transaction that saw Douglas Luiz move in the opposite direction for a fee of £42m.

In the first half of last season at Bologna, Iling-Junior made just seven league appearances and failed to start a single game. However, he featured more prominently in the Champions League, making three starts and featuring as a substitute against Villa during the league phase.

He then joined Middlesbrough on loan for the second half of the campaign, but initially had to wait for a consistent run in the team.

From the start of March, Iling-Junior started all ten of Boro’s remaining Championship games, recording three goal contributions in wins over Oxford and Blackburn.