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Aston Villa midfielder Leander Dendoncker has been backed to make an impact at Napoli, with a surprise move to the Italian side seemingly close.

Reports yesterday indicated Napoli have agreed a deal with Aston Villa to loan the Belgian midfielder until the end of the season, with the deal set to include a €10m option to make it permanent.

The move has come as something of a surprise, literally appearing yesterday out of nowhere and raising plenty of questions. Not for journalist Paolo del Genio, however.

He, instead, is convinced that the midfielder will be able to make an impact in Naples and prove to be a smart addition for the Italian champions, despite his struggles to make a big impact at Aston Villa in recent years.

“He also has a good past as a defender,” he said.

He is not a starter for Aston Villa, but it is not easy to be a starter in a team that has such strong players and who plays two in midfield. However, he has played eight games in the league, also scoring a goal.

“Furthermore, he is an experienced player, a good footballer who will give substance to the midfield of the pitch.”

Whether Dendoncker can make an impact remains to be seen, but for now the focus is on the deal being competed.

On that front Area Napoli report that the player is expected in Rome this morning to undergo medical visits and then sign his contract before making himself available to coach Walter Mazzarri.

Indeed, the belief is that he could have a place in the squad for the upcoming clash with Lazio, with everything seemingly progressing smoothly and his arrival eagerly anticipated, at least by some.