Aston Villa eye shock January move for Brentford striker Igor Thiago | OneFootball

Aston Villa are eyeing a shocking January move for Brentford striker Igor Thiago, according to the Mirror.

Villa are reportedly preparing to test Brentford’s resolve with a tempting proposal for the in-form striker as Unai Emery looks to bolster his attacking options.

They are looking for a long-term successor to Ollie Watkins and Thiago’s form since moving to the Premier League has caught the eye of the club’s bosses.

Emery has been eager to strengthen his forward line since last summer. But despite several attempts, he still hasn’t found an ideal replacement for Jhon Duran, who left the club in January.

With just over a month until the winter transfer window opens, Thiago has become a primary target for Villa, although prising him away from Brentford will require a sizeable fee.

The Bees invested £30 million to sign Thiago from Club Brugge in 2024. He struggled to prove his worth in his debut season due to recurring injuries.

However, the Brazilian has sparked into life this season, erupting into one of the most dangerous finishers in the Premier League.

Thiago has scored 11 goals in 13 Premier League games, including a brace in the 3-1 victory against Burnley on Saturday afternoon.

Only Manchester City striker Erling Braut Haaland (14) has scored more goals than Thiago this season, and his performances haven’t gone under the radar.

Villa are huge admirers of the striker’s all-round qualities and believe he fits the mould of a long-term number nine for Emery’s side.

They are reportedly preparing a £50m bid for Thiago. Whether it’ll be enough to convince Brentford to sell remains to be seen.

Watkins turns 30 next month and has failed to deliver for Vila this season. The England international, who has been repeatedly linked with a Villa exit, has only scored once in 12 Premier League games.

While Villa have found other ways to threaten opposition defenders without their main man firing on all cylinders, Emery wants to make sure he brings in a prolific striker to boost their top-four hopes.