Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Las Palmas starlet Alberto Moleiro, so who is the talented playmaker that appears to have caught Unai Emery’s eye?
As per the Daily Mail, Villa are tracking Moleiro but face significant competition, with the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Madrid also said to be interested in him.
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Nevertheless, Emery is said to be an admirer of his talents, and there’s good reason for that given the potential that he possesses. With that in mind, it’s hoped that we can make quick progress in any possible talks to try and move to the front of the queue and win the race for his signature.
Alberto Moleiro stats, analysis and opinion
Moleiro, 19, has worked his way through the youth ranks at Las Palmas and has since gone on to make 60 appearances at senior level, scoring three goals and providing six assists.
Five of those assists have come in 20 league appearances so far this season, and so it’s clear that he is starting to raise his level, adapt to senior football and is showcasing his quality on a more consistent basis as he continues to mature.
While he plays a pivotal role in their push for promotion to La Liga this season, he has also been capped twice at U21 level for Spain, and the expectation is that he’ll have a bright future ahead of him with club and country if he continues to develop and improve his game.
At 1.72m tall, he is small in stature, but he makes up for that with his speed and technical quality on the ball, as he has an explosive ability to burst past players and then use his vision to pick out dangerous passes.
Further, he has displayed an eye for goal himself, and so with that creativity, skill to beat players in one-on-one situations and composure on the ball, he has showcased a lot of quality in the final third and it comes as no surprise that he is attracting plenty of interest.
He has also shown versatility this season, playing in various roles for Las Palmas in attack. Predominantly used as an attacking midfielder through the middle, he can also operate on either flank or in a more advanced role, and so that could be valuable for Emery as he looks to use the talent he already has at his disposal too.
It’s a significant step up from the second tier of Spanish football to the Premier League, and adapting and adjusting to a new country, environment and squad will come with challenges. However, looking at the raw talent being displayed by Moleiro at this age and how well he’s performing this year, it’s easy to see why Emery and Villa are said to be keen on signing him.
Time will tell if talks take place and an agreement is reached, but if this is the direction and strategy that Villa will adopt in the transfer market, it’s hoped that we can identify and sign some highly talented young players under Emery, be it from Spain or elsewhere.
