Aston Villa identify ex-Chelsea and Barcelona forward as Diaby replacement

Aston Villa are considering a move for Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix as a replacement for Moussa Diaby, reports the Guardian.

Diaby is set for a £50m move to Al-Ittihad just a year after joining the club from Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen. 

Villa boss Unai Emery was believed to be keen on keeping Diaby at Villa Park, but the offer from Al-Ittihad was too good to turn down. 

The Frenchman scored six goals and provided eight assists for the Villans but lost his spot in the starting XI from November onwards. 

Villa have since re-signed Jaden Philogene from Hull but are also targeting a move for Felix as they look to boost their frontline ahead of their debut Champions League campaign. 

The 24-year-old, who missed a decisive penalty in Portugal's quarter-final shootout defeat to France at Euro 2024 earlier this month, spent last season on loan at Barcelona. 

However, Barcelona have shown no desire to make his loan deal permanent, and having seemingly burnt his bridges with Atletico Madrid; Felix could be on the move again. 

Felix scored four times during his six-month loan spell with Chelsea in the 2022/23 season, though the Blues also elected against signing the striker permanently.