Aston Villa Line Up A Move For This Brentford Star: Is It The Right Decision? | OneFootball

Aston Villa have been consistently impressive in the Premier League over the past few weeks, and the team appears to be back in the Champions League spots. Despite strong performances, Unai Emery felt the squad needed to improve in the January window.

The primary goal was to find a replacement striker to alleviate some of the ongoing pressure. As discussions progressed, it became clear that Ollie Watkins’ form remained a concern. The English striker scored only once in 18 matches across all competitions, and that was in September, suggesting the team is heavily dependent on him.

Aston Villa want to sign Igor Thiago

Emery is looking to turn things around. Igor Thiago has scored 11 goals in 13 Premier League appearances for Brentford this season, showing strong goal-scoring ability. This explains why Aston Villa are likely to pursue his signing in January, as reported by The Mirror (via SportsView).

BRENTFORD, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 29: Igor Thiago of Brentford looks on during the Premier League match between Brentford and Burnley at Brentford Community Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

The path will not be easy, as Brentford acquired him from Club Brugge for £30 million in the summer of 2024 and are expected to demand a fee close to the £65 million sale of Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United.

Will he be a good signing?

Rivals like Tottenham and Newcastle are also showing interest in Igor Thiago, raising the level of competition. The argument is that the 24-year-old striker, already performing in the Premier League and still developing, could be a long-term investment. Experts say his hold-up play and intelligent movement could provide stability to the team’s attack.

If Aston Villa want to advance their Champions League ambitions beyond their current level, taking the risk and investing in a player like Igor Thiago may be wise. The price tag will be hefty, but depending on performance, this decision could accelerate their goals. Now, we have to wait and see if the Birmingham-based club invests their amount in the 24-year-old Brazilian centre-forward.