Aston Villa are reportedly pursuing a deal to sign Celta Vigo midfielder Iliax Moriba for £15m, but the Spanish club have indicated they are not interested in a transfer at that valuation. According to transfer journalist Alan Nixon, Villa's offer falls short of Celta Vigo's expectations, while Moriba himself has reservations about potentially being a squad player at Villa Park.
Moriba's Background and Career Path
The 23-year-old central midfielder is a product of Barcelona's La Masia academy, known for his box-to-box style and physical strength. After breaking into Barcelona's first team in the 2020/2021 season, he moved on to Valencia, Getafe, and RB Leipzig. However, he failed to secure a long-term future in Germany, leading to a return to Spain with Celta Vigo.
Interest from Other Clubs
Villa are not alone in their pursuit of Moriba. Crystal Palace, Juventus, and Galatasaray are also reportedly interested in his services. This competition could further complicate any potential deal for the Midlands club.
Villa's Midfield Rebuild
The interest in Moriba comes as Aston Villa look to reshape their midfield following Youri Tielemans' departure to Manchester United in a £35m deal. Villa have already moved swiftly to agree a deal with Wolves for Joao Gomes, which is expected to be confirmed within the next 24 hours. Gomes' arrival will follow the signing of Johan Manzambi for a club-record £52 million. Additionally, Villa are targeting Joao Palhinha on loan to provide cover for the injured Amadou Onana, who is expected to miss most, if not all, of next season after suffering an ACL rupture.
Potential Outgoings
One player who could leave Villa Park is Ross Barkley, with Coventry City and Fulham expressing interest. However, no deal has been struck yet, and manager Unai Emery may choose to retain Barkley as a useful squad player if no concrete offers materialize.
