Aston Villa’s summer midfield business appears to have closed the door on a move for Ilaix Moriba. At least, that is according to the view from Spain.
Celta Vigo midfielder Ilaix Moriba has been linked with Aston Villa in recent weeks, particularly after Amadou Onana’s serious knee injury at the World Cup. But Spanish newspaper El Desmarque now believes Unai Emery’s side have effectively moved on.
The report argues Aston Villa’s midfield is now sufficiently stocked following the arrivals of João Gomes and Johan Manzambi. Therefore, a move for Moriba is increasingly unlikely unless circumstances change again before the transfer window closes.
João Gomes arrival changes the picture
El Desmarque goes as far as saying Aston Villa made an offer for Moriba “a few weeks ago”, although it provides no details of that supposed bid and there has been little reporting elsewhere to support the claim.
Instead, the newspaper’s conclusion is based largely on Villa’s transfer activity.
With João Gomes joining to strengthen the engine room and Manzambi also arriving, the Spanish outlet believes Emery now has enough options through the middle.
It points to Boubacar Kamara, Ross Barkley and Lamare Bogarde as further midfield alternatives already in the squad.
The only factor that could alter the equation, according to the report, is Onana’s long-term absence after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament at the World Cup.
Premier League links continue
Ilaix Moriba remains a player expected to attract attention before the window closes. The 23-year-old enjoyed an impressive campaign with Celta Vigo after joining permanently from RB Leipzig for €6m (£5.2m) last summer. He signed a contract until 2029.
His performances have increased his market value and Celta are expected to command a significantly higher fee if they decide to sell.
Premier League interest in Moriba has remained a recurring theme this summer. Brighton were linked with the midfielder last year. Meanwhile, reports in Spain claimed Aston Villa were considering a move more recently.
Only last week, Moriba was also reportedly offered to Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Hull City. His representatives continued exploring options in England.
Whether Villa were ever as advanced as some reports have suggested remains open to debate.
For now, the latest view from Spain is that João Gomes’ arrival has left Moriba looking elsewhere, unless Onana’s injury forces Aston Villa back into the market later in the summer.
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