Aston Villa are in the process of searching for a replacement for Moussa Diaby however, one target could cause problems for several players at the club.
Not many would have anticipated that Aston Villa would part ways with first-team stars such as Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby this summer.
Unai Emery and Monchi offloaded the Brazilian to ease Villa’s PSR concerns, seeing the midfielder join Juventus as part of a swap deal including Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea.
The situation surrounding Diaby is even more of a shock, as just a year after arriving at Villa Park, the Frenchman is poised to join Al-Ittihad in a move that will hand Monchi a surprising profit.
Aston Villa set to target Joao Felix as a replacement for Moussa Diaby
Villa are continuing to hunt for a replacement for Diaby, as the 25-year-old is set for a switch to Saudi Arabia.
One player who has been identified as a possible target for the Villans is Joao Felix, whose claim to a summer transfer has grown this week.
On Monday, The Guardian reported that Villa are now targeting an ‘eye-catching move’ for Felix after Diaby’s sale has gone through.
The report says that the Atletico Madrid forward is ‘under consideration’ at Villa this summer and is a player who is ‘of interest’ to Emery.
Having spent last season on loan at Atletico Madrid and part of the 2022/23 on loan at Chelsea, Felix’s career at Atletico seems to be coming to a close, with Villa the latest club to be eyeing the 24-year-old.
While signing the “magic” forward – as he was described by his former youth coach Renato Paiva in an interview with The Athletic – would be superb business for Villa, it could cause alarm bells to ring for several players at the club.
Three Villa players who could be worried if Felix was to join the squad
Youri Tielemans
The first name on the list is Youri Tielemans, who despite announcing himself to Emery in his first season at the club, has not always been a firm starter under the Spaniard.
It took the Belgian some time to secure his spot in the XI following his arrival last summer, with the former Leicester City ace finally becoming comfortable in the role playing just behind Ollie Watkins.
Unfortunately, if Felix were to come in, it would be assumed that he would occupy such role in the squad, which could in turn jeopardise Tielemans’ playing time once more at Villa.
Morgan Rogers
Theoretically, there shouldn’t be any hesitation over Morgan Rogers’ claim to start in Emery’s side next season as he continues to thrive after arriving in January.
The Englishman found a way into the side as a result of injuries last term however, has been in undroppable form since, with his quality only evolving in pre-season.
In pre-season, Rogers has contributed to four goals in two games so far although, could face a situation identical to Tielemans’, as he is thriving in the role that would presumably be assumed by Felix.
There would be plenty of areas that Rogers could play in but the 21-year-old has been particularly bright in the role alongside Watkins, which again, could be compromised if a player of Felix’s calibre was to arrive at Villa Park.
Emi Buendia
The player who could be most affected by the arrival of Felix is Emi Buendia, who fell down the pecking order by no fault of his own last season.
After a dazzling pre-season during the summer of 2023, the Argentine suffered an ACL injury that ended his campaign before it had even begun.
It was terrible timing for the 27-year-old, who had a point to prove at Villa after struggling to show the levels he showcased before his move from Norwich City.
Instead, time ticked on in Emery’s squad while it stood still for the attacking midfielder, whose approach to play is similar to that of Felix’s, whose arrival would only add more competition for gametime and another body in the pecking order ahead of Buendia.
