- Aston Vila have been keeping an eye on Ilaix Moriba
- Celta Vigo’s are open to selling due to their financial problems
- Villa supposedly watched Moriba earlier this month
Aston Villa have set their sights on Celta Vigo’s Ilaix Moriba for a move in the summer, as Unai Emery looks to bolster his midfield with more depth. The Spanish club’s financial constraints may force them to sell the Guinean.
According to Foot Africa, Emery personally observed the 23-year-old earlier this month at the Mestalla Stadium during the match between Celta Vigo and Valencia. The Spaniard is said to be impressed by Morbia’s physical attributes and his ability to break lines with his passing and his forward runs.
Villa appears to be in a strong position to secure his services, given the need for the Galician side to sell players to balance their books. A minimum of €20 million (£17.3 million) is estimated to be the figure they would consider for a sale.
Former future star
Moriba broke through Barcelona’s academy and made his debut at the age of 18 against Cornellà in the Copa del Rey in 2021. Scouts labelled him as a future star and likened him to Paul Pogba.
However, after he rejected a contract renewal, leaving him out of the team, he decided to join RB Leipzig in a deal worth €22 million (£19.1 million). It was here where his career stalled.
He had three unsuccessful loan spells in Spain, with two at Valencia, and one with Getafe, before a move to Celta Vigo in 2024 began to revitalise his progress. After initially joining on loan, a buy option was triggered last summer for around €6 million (£5.2 million), and he’s now become an important player for them in La Liga.
Moriba spoke last year about regretting his decision to leave Barcelona, but has finally turned a corner and is enjoying his football again.
The fit at Villa
Unai Emery has always wanted Villa to have quality squad depth in each position, to allow his team to compete on all fronts in every competition.
Currently, in central midfield, they have Youri Tielemans, Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana, Ross Barkley, Douglas Luiz (on loan) and Lamare Bogarde. You would expect both Tielemans and Kamara to remain as the key starters in the double pivot when both are fit.
That means there is a lot of competition already for Moriba should he make the switch to the Midlands. However, the Villans not only need to reduce the average age of their squad, but also continue to decrease their wage bill.
This would suggest that the club would potentially move Barkley on, and they would likely not make Luiz’s loan a permanent deal. Bogarde would probably stay, due to Emery’s love for his versatility, but there could be question marks over Onana’s future, with reported interest in recent weeks.
Moriba would certainly add that physical dimension that Onana offers, although a deal may not rest on whether the Belgian departs or not. Emery may simply want to have an additional enforcer in the squad.
Overall, Villa’s pursuit of Moriba represents a calculated move by Emery to inject youthful physicality at a financially viable price. The No 6’s resurgence at Celta Vigo has successfully rehabilitated his career following a difficult period in Germany. He may finally deliver on the immense potential he once showed at Barcelona, with a move to Villa Park.
