Aston Villa are said to be ‘closely watching’ 18-year-old Real Betis star Assane Diao ahead of the January transfer window.
That is according to TEAMtalk, who claim that several clubs, including Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester United, are interested in the highly-rated winger.
Diao has emerged as an exciting talent this season after making his professional debut against Rangers in the Europa League.
Although he only featured for a two-minute cameo on that night, he has since become a revelation in Spain and the form he’s showing speaks volumes of his talent.
With six goals in 19 appearances this term, he has caught the eye of scouts from Villa and Brentford, who are said to be watching the talented youngster closely.
If Villa are to challenge for the Premier League title, depth in forward areas is key in January as Unai Emery aims to add some quality competition to his ranks.
That said, they’d be pinning a lot of hope on Diao hitting the ground running if they were to sign him in January and the 18-year-old would be captured for the long-term.
What is Assane Diao’s style of play?
According to talent scout Jacek Kulig, Diao is an explosive and fast winger who likes to outrun his opponents.
Much like the majority of modern wingers, the youngster enjoys cutting onto his strong right foot and challenging his opponents in one-on-one situations.
Diao would also fit like a glove into Emery’s plans due to the versatility he would offer. The Spanish U21 international is comfortable in central areas but also likes to hug the left touchline.
Possessing searing pace and great dribbling to create opportunities for his team, the Betis star is an exciting player to watch and could potentially be an upgrade on Nicolo Zaniolo.
Assane Diao can replace Nicolo Zaniolo
Zaniolo has struggled since arriving on loan from Galatasaray in the summer.
Despite arriving with so much hype, the Italian has failed to live up to expectations and is yet to score or assist in claret and blue.
Having subsequently lost his place in the team due to the form of Leon Bailey and John McGinn, in particular, the 24-year-old is going to find it tough to break back into Emery’s plans.
It is not out of the ordinary for a loan spell to backfire, but if he doesn’t show signs of improving soon, Villa will decide against pursuing a deal to sign him permanently in the summer.
This means that the capture of Diao could be a long-term replacement for Zaniolo, both adding quality in wide areas and versatility.
