Aston Villa are one of a number of Premier League clubs closely observing Genclerbirligi Ankara midfielder Ousmane Diabate, with a view to making a move for the 18-year-old this summer, according to TEAMtalk.
Diabate joined the Turkish club in December and managed to catch the eye of several English sides in the ensuing six months, despite making just seven appearances in the remainder of the season. Compared by many to legendary France midfielder N'Golo Kante due to his defensive qualities and intelligence on the ball, the Guinean is now making waves in football analytics circles.
Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly opened talks to sign Diabate, as have Brentford, while Villa and Brighton are also said to have sent scouts to watch the player in recent months.
While Villa are yet to make direct contact with the starlet's representatives or Genclerbirligi, they hold genuine interest in the teenage talent, as Unai Emery looks to start succession planning for some of his ageing midfielders.
Aston Villa monitoring wonderkid's transfer status
youri tielemans emery
Villa need to get younger in midfield in the coming years, with the likes of Ross Barkley, Youri Tielemans, John McGinn and Emiliano Buendia all entering the latter stages of their career.
Tielemans is set to join Manchester United for £35million, while Freiburg's Johan Manzambi is expected to come straight in to replace the Belgian. While this swap will lower the age profile of Emery's midfield department, more work needs to be done on this.
Thus, it's no surprise that Villa are being linked to an up-and-coming midfielder in Diabate. TEAMtalk report that the West Midlanders are meticulously monitoring the prospect's progress in Turkey, and that they could make a move for him in the foreseeable future.
It's said that Diabate is on terms at Genclerbirligi that would allow him to leave for a modest fee, making him an attractive option for Premier League clubs currently operating in a highly-inflated domestic market.
While the youngster is open to a move to a top-five league, his development is being carefully managed by those close to him, and they may believe a move next summer makes more sense for his career.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery looks on
As glowing as the reviews of Diabate are, it's unlikely that he's ready to make an immediate impact in the Premier League at Villa Park.
His career to date consists of 207 senior league minutes, all of which have come in the Turkish Super Lig. He may have great potential, but he's probably not polished and certainly isn't the finished article.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
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For Villa, Diabate would be a project signing, and they may need to allow him to go on loan first before blooding him in the intense English top flight.
With Tielemans leaving and Amadou Onana sustaining an ACL injury during the World Cup, Manzambi and a developing Diabate clearly won't be enough for Emery's team this summer.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery looks on Related
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