Surprise PL club pushing to sign 2 Real Madrid stars this summer, one player not keen on move - Reports
Aston Villa are keen to sign Real Madrid duo Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos when their contracts end in June, according to French journalist Santi Aouna.
Villa have had an upturn in form since Unai Emery took charge in November. They have won 14 and drawn four of their 26 games under the Spaniard and have only lost two of their 13 games since March.
The Birmingham-based club are seventh in the Premier League with 58 points from 37 games. A win against Brighton & Hove Albion in their final game will see them qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League. They could finish sixth if the Seagulls fail to win their two remaining games.
With a European qualification within reach, Villa are prepared to back Emery in the upcoming summer transfer window. The Athletic has linked the club with ambitious swoops for Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams and Villarreal's Giovani Lo Celso.
It has now emerged that Emery's side are also interested in Real Madrid duo Asensio and Ceballos. The latter has received a concrete offer from the Premier League club, according to the aforementioned source.
Ceballos and Asensio's contract with Los Blancos expires at the end of the season. Both have rejected contract extension offers from the club as they deem the proposal to be insufficient, as per Fichajes and El Nacional.
Villa are keen to take advantage of the situation by luring the Spanish duo to Birmingham. Asensio, though, prefers to extend his deal with Real Madrid, as per Aouna, but Ceballos' stance is unclear.
How have Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos fared for Real Madrid?
Dani Ceballos joined Real Madrid from Real Betis for €16.5 million in 2017. The midfielder has made 116 appearances across competitions for Los Blancos, bagging six goals and 11 assists. He has won ten trophies, including two UEFA Champions League trophies and one La Liga title.
Ceballos, though, has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter for the Spanish giants, as 24 of his 42 appearances across competitions this season have come off the bench.
A reunion with Unai Emery, who he briefly played under during his loan spell at Arsenal, at Aston Villa could be enticing for Ceballos. The 26-year-old was with the Gunners for two years, between 2019 and 2021, and played 17 games under the tactician.
Marco Asensio, 27, meanwhile, joined Real Madrid from RCD Mallorca for €3.9 million in January 2015. He spent the remainder of the season with his previous club and also went out on loan to Espanyol the following campaign.
The winger has since made 283 appearances across competitions for Madrid, bagging 61 goals and 32 assists. Asensio has won 17 trophies, including three UEFA Champions League and as many La Liga titles, with the club.