Aston Villa are looking at potential January targets with Besiktas striker Semih Kilicsoy and Villarreal’s Spain playmaker Alex Baena both options for the Premier League outfit.
Exclusive from Graeme Bailey
While Aston Villa needed Emi Martinez to save themselves a point against Juventus in the Champions League, Unai Emery’s team were left ruing a lack of ruthlessness at the other end following a 0-0 draw with really could have gone either way.
Ollie Watkins was marshalled well by Juventus’ backline. Leon Bailey’s form his dipped at Aston Villa too, meanwhile, with no goals in 17 appearances this season for the winger.
Aston Villa may be busy in January, then, with their attacking options maybe in need of some work.
TBR understands that one player Aston Villa have been taking a keen interest in of late is the teenage centre-forward Semih Kilicsoy.
The 19-year-old Turkey international may have found the net only twice in 2024/25 but a fine breakthrough season at Besiktas last year means he is also on the radars of Newcastle United, Tottenham, Brentford, Fulham, West Ham and Nottingham Forest.
Kilicsoy’s agent confirmed Arsenal and Manchester City’s interest a few months ago too.
The youngster’s razor-sharp movement and instinctive goal-poaching talents – even if they do not really shine through in his recent statistics – have drawn comparisons with Germany legend Gerd Muller. Kilicsoy, meanwhile, idolises Manchester City hero Sergio Aguero.
Semih Kilicsoy of Besiktas lift the Turkish Cup trophy after their sides victory during the Turkish cup final match between Besiktas and Trabzonspo...
Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images
Aston Villa eye Semih Kilicsoy and Villarreal’s Alex Baena
Kilicsoy, TBR can confirm, is open to a potential £22 million move to English football.
Another talented young attacker on Aston Villa’s radar, meanwhile, is a familiar face to coach Emery. The two Spaniards worked together at Villarreal, with Alex Baena one of those left disappointed by his manager’s switch to Villa Park back in 2022.
“It was a bit strange. Nobody expected it,” Baena told El Mundo at the time. “It happened overnight. Emotionally, it left us a bit affected.”
Now capped eight times by Spain, Baena certainly bounced back from Emery’s exit, blossoming into one of the most consistent creative talents in Spanish football. A bonafide set-piece specialist who likes to cut inside from the left onto his right foot, Baena provided 18 assists to go with his five goals across 2023/24.
According to Football Espana, Baena has a £50 million release clause in his Villarreal contract. If Villa were to pay such a fee, that would see him join Amadou Onana as the joint-most expensive player in their history.
Aston Villa scouted Spain star Baena during international break
TBR understands that Aston Villa watched Baena feature for Spain against Denmark in the UEFA Nations League this month.
“Alex is a very talented player,” former Villarreal coach Quique Setien said after Baena shone in a 3-2 win at Real Madrid. “And he showed it at the Bernabeu. He was involved in two of our goals and he created a lot of problems for Real Madrid.
“He is still young and he has a lot of room for improvement.”
TBR reported earlier this week, meanwhile, that Aston Villa like PSV Eindhoven’s Malik Tillman too. The former Rangers loanee scored twice, including a long-range thunderbolt, as PSV came from 2-0 to beat Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.
Douglas Luiz will not be returning to Villa Park from Juventus, however, despite Monchi’s praise of the Brazilian.
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