Aston Villa are already planning ahead for the January window and have a Belgian talent on their radar who could slot into their midfield pivot under Unai Emery.
The international break is beginning to take shape, and the Villans have earned a rest from Premier League action after an excellent turnaround following their early-season form. However, supporters will be patiently waiting for club football to return in the West Midlands.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reacts
Capping an impressive run of results before the top-flight paused, a comprehensive 4-0 victory for Aston Villa against Bournemouth left them sixth in the league standings ahead of favourable clashes in a couple of weeks against Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Still, Ollie Watkins' struggles this season haven't gone unnoticed, and neither has his omission from the England squad. Nevertheless, BBC Radio WM pundit Gary Thompson is adamant that the goals will start flowing for the out-of-form striker.
He said: "Sometimes as a striker, you're waiting and trying to analyse, as opposed to just gambling and moving. Then, when the ball goes, you're that split-second behind. It happens with a lot of strikers. But I've got loads of faith in that fella. I believe Watkins will come back and will score goals. But you are judged as a striker on your goals."
Either way, the January window could prove to be a pivotal month when it comes to adding quality to the Villans' existing squad. Real Betis star Abde Ezzalzouli has been personally requested by Emery, potentially adding a layer of versatility in the wide areas.
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt could also be on his way to Villa Park, offering a potential landmark signing in their pursuit of a European place, and he may be joined by an exciting engine room operator from the Belgian Pro League.
Aston Villa keen to sign Anderlecht midfielder Nathan De Cat
According to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are pursuing Anderlecht rising star Nathan De Cat, who is on the radar of a host of clubs due to his emergence at the Belgian heavyweights this season.
Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich and AC Milan are some of the other sides intrigued by his potential, and the Villans' recruitment team view the 17-year-old as an ideal fix to feature alongside Boubacar Kamara in their double-pivot.
Nathan De Cat in 2025/26 - all competitions
Appearances
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The Belgium Under-18 international won't be easy to land, with Anderlecht set to demand a base fee of £18 million with add-ons potentially taking the total figure to around £31 million.
Brighton & Hove Albion, alongside Nottingham Forest, are also in the hunt, so it is fair to say De Cat has plenty of options to choose from as he continues his meteoric rise on the continent. January is just around the corner and Aston Villa are making their priorities known, though it remains to be seen if they can push through a deal for one of Europe's in-demand midfielders.
Aston Villa are also keen to bolster their defence with Oscar Mingueza