Aston Villa And Tottenham Hotspur Race For 26 Year Old Real Madrid Ace: Good Choice For Emery? | OneFootball

According to an exclusive from Graeme Bailey, Brahim Diaz’s agents are busy reaching out to Premier League clubs. They have put Aston Villa and Tottenham on high alert for a potential move before the January window slams shut. Diaz is back from a painful Africa Cup of Nations run with Morocco. However, he has returned to find himself stuck on the sidelines of Alvaro Arbeloa’s new-look Real Madrid squad.

Aston Villa and Spurs Race for Outcast Diaz as Deadline Looms

The playmaker looked sharp on the international stage, but that gut-wrenching 94th-minute Panenka penalty miss in the final against Senegal has left him in a tough spot. The report reveals Diaz’s camp doesn’t see a clear path into Arbeloa’s starting lineup right now, especially as the new manager looks to establish his own system. So, they are testing the waters with several teams across Europe, including Newcastle United and Italian side Como.

Aston Villa enter the final hours of the winter window in the thick of a high-stakes race for the Champions League. Unai Emery has built a disciplined, tactical machine, but his side sometimes looks flat when they need a spark of magic in the final third.

VITORIA-GASTEIZ, SPAIN – DECEMBER 14: Brahim Diaz of Real Madrid looks on during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Deportivo Alaves and Real Madrid CF at Estadio de Mendizorroza on December 14, 2025 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Throughout this 2025/26 season, the Villans have stayed in the hunt. Even so, they often get stuck playing strictly by the book instead of using raw individual talent to crack open stubborn defences. This is exactly why the Diaz link is so interesting. The Moroccan star has that rare gift for drifting between the lines. He can blow a game open with a sudden, mazy run. It is something Villa’s current midfield simply doesn’t offer.

Even though the 26-year-old fits the system, pulling off a massive deal like this with only hours left is a huge mountain to climb. Real Madrid usually hate letting squad players go mid-season. This is especially true while Arbeloa is chasing a La Liga title.

That said, the player is clearly unhappy, and his agents are working overtime to find a way out. Villa might still put together an offer that meets Madrid’s price tag. If they can give Diaz the chance to prove himself again, he could provide the creative boost Emery needs to nail down a top-four spot. Personally, we think Villa have to go for it. Bringing in a match-winner like Diaz could be the difference between settling for the Europa League and finally joining Europe’s big hitters again.