By support

28th Feb, 2017 | 9:59am

Rival manager trolls Aston Villa: You paid over the asking price for 27-year-old star

By Will Butcher

Bristol City manager Lee Johnson has revealed that Aston Villa paid more than the asking price to sign striker Jonathan Kodjia.

Kodjia, 27, joined Villa in the summer for a fee that could potentially rise to a grand total of £15million, and is currently his side’s top goalscorer with 11 strikes in claret and blue.

However, Johnson has told the Birmingham Mail that Villa paid more money than the club had hoped to get for Kodjia.

“We didn’t want to sell him, but it became evident quite early on in the summer that he wanted to go,” Johnson said. “Do you keep someone who wants to be elsewhere, or do you try and get the best possible price?

“We did the latter and got a brilliant deal for the club. We set a price and ended up getting even more from Aston Villa.”

Kodjia has been a rare shining light in Villa’s side this season, providing 11 goals in 29 appearances.

Steve Bruce’s next top scorer was Rudy Gestede with four strikes before he joined Middlesbrough. Scott Hogan, Conor Hourihane and Henri Lansbury have more, but with their previous clubs.

Promotion expert Bruce will be hoping Kodjia can add to that tally against his former side on Tuesday night, as the two go up against each other at Villa Park.

Villa come into the game after securing their first win in 11 matches, with a scrappy 1-0 win against Steve McClaren’s Derby but will be hopeful of beating City who sit in 21st place.

Three points for Kodjia and the rest of the Villa squad could see them rise to 15th in the Championship table, if other results go their way.

In other Aston Villa news, this on-loan playmaker should be one of the first names on Villa’s team sheet next season.

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