Aston Villa centre-back Kortney Hause was the subject of interest from the Premier League and Championship during the summer, The Athletic's Gregg Evans writes. 

The lowdown

With loanee Axel Tuanzebe ineligible to face his parent club, Hause was drafted into Dean Smith's back three for Aston Villa's trip to Manchester United.

And he marked his first Premier League start of the season with a memorable late goal, securing Villa's first victory at Old Trafford since 2009.

The Englishman has been hailed as an 'incredible squad player' by club correspondent Ashley Preece.

His contract is due to expire at the end of the season, but crucially Villa have the option to extend it by a further year (via Transfermarkt).

The latest

According to Evans, 'rival Premier League clubs' made 'tentative enquiries' for Hause during the summer, but their interest didn't progress any further.

Meanwhile, clubs asked in the Championship asked about a possible loan, but that was never thought to be 'likely'.

The verdict

Even though Hause only started seven Premier League matches last season, it was hard to see Villa agreeing to let him go. Clubs need four senior centre-backs at their disposal.

And Smith's willingness to change systems to a back three/five could herald more opportunities for the 26-year-old, potentially convincing him to stay put, if indeed he was considering whether a move away was best for his career.

In other news, this man came under fire for his performance at Old Trafford