Aston Villa are actively pursuing a deal to sign Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos as manager Unai Emery seeks to address a midfield injury crisis during the January transfer window.
Villa's midfield search intensifies
The West Midlands club, currently sitting third in the Premier League, are determined to strengthen their squad depth to maintain challenges on multiple fronts. This push comes amid significant injury setbacks, with key players Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana both sidelined. Furthermore, the club is reportedly considering an approach from Sheffield United for the also-injured Ross Barkley.
Villa's initial plans suffered a blow when a proposed move for Conor Gallagher collapsed. The club had been close to securing the midfielder on loan from Atletico Madrid with a £35m option to buy, but saw the deal hijacked by Tottenham Hotspur, who signed him permanently this month.
Emery's persuasive history with Ceballos
The potential switch to Ceballos represents a reunion, as the Spanish midfielder previously played under Emery at Arsenal. Ceballos joined the Gunners on loan in the summer of 2019, which was Emery's final transfer window at the Emirates. He made an immediate impact, providing two assists and winning the man-of-the-match award on his debut against Burnley.
Spanish football expert Terry Gibson told talkSPORT that Ceballos has a high chance of returning to the Premier League this month, citing Villa's interest as the reason he was absent from a recent Real Madrid match. "Aston Villa having missed out on Conor Gallagher, the talk is that Dani Ceballos is the other choice," Gibson stated.
Ceballos has fond memories of his initial move to England, crediting Emery's personal touch. "Unai practically came to my house to tell me that he loved me as a player," Ceballos said in 2019. "The confidence of a coach is key... Unai told me that I would be important with him at Arsenal."
A fresh start for a Madrid utility player
Despite being at Real Madrid since 2017, Ceballos has largely served as a useful squad player, with most of his minutes coming under manager Carlo Ancelotti. His opportunities have been limited this season, however, with just three league starts. The recent exit of coach Xabi Alonso, with Alvaro Arbeloa taking temporary charge, has increased speculation about his future.
For Aston Villa, securing a player of Ceballos's calibre and experience would be a significant coup. It would provide Emery with a technically gifted option he knows well, as his team aims to progress deep into the Europa League and FA Cup while securing a top-four Premier League finish.
