Aston Villa have begun a move to sign the Real Madrid attacker ahead of their Premier League rivals, according to recent reports.
Emery accepts Gessando’s late departure
It has been a busy end to the transfer window at Villa Park. The Villains came from behind to beat Red Bull Salzburg in dramatic fashion on Wednesday, the same week they welcomed the likes of Douglas Lewis and Tammy Abraham back to the club.
Now, with Abraham’s arrival, it looks like Evan Guesand could head to Crystal Palace to replace Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The forward could become the second attacker to leave the Midlands club this month, with Villa manager Unai Emery giving his opinion, telling reporters: “It’s similar to Mullen: there are three parts to this chapter: the club, the team and the players.
“I was happy for him and didn’t want him to leave, but by accepting something – a good deal for the club – and giving him a chance to play, maybe he can get another way to show his improvement.
Aston Villa close in on ‘clinical’ gem with exit card in late January
The Villains made their demands known.
“I accepted it. We signed a striker and a winger. Maybe the last game was more difficult for him to start and he decided to leave. We will continue with the players we have now.”
Gessando’s expected departure could open up room for more new signings at Villa Park before the end of the window, with links with Luis Enrique and the Real Madrid attacker also emerging.
Aston Villa move towards signing Brahim Dias
According to TeamTalk, Aston Villa made a last-minute approach to sign Brahim Dias from Real Madrid earlier this month.
The Morocco international has been kept out of Alvaro Arbeloa’s side since returning from AFCON, with intermediaries across the Premier League reportedly making offers for his signature.
Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa have reportedly been the targets of contact, with Villa and Spurs reportedly launching investigations.
The players themselves should be able to get a fresh start after experiencing the most painful heartbreak at AFCON. But it remains to be seen whether it was Villa who offered him a change of scenery.
Despite the heartbreak in the final, Diaz proved how much of an impact he can make on the world stage. The former Manchester City star won the Golden Boot after an extraordinary tournament.
His performance should have come as no surprise to former Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, who told reporters earlier this season: “I felt that Brahim was in good condition.
“I’ve known him for a while and understand the difference he can make and how he reads his position on the pitch. He’s a good player in tight spaces, so I wasn’t surprised by his level.”
