Villa are prepared to pay around £15m for the midfielder, but Celta Vigo have rejected that valuation, per Alan Nixon on July 19th. Moriba also has reservations about the move, fearing he would be used mainly as a squad player behind Manzambi, Gomes and a returning Kamara, and is not pushing to leave Vigo at this stage. Both the fee gap and the player's stance would need to change before the deal can advance; the same report notes Villa are now weighing keeping Ross Barkley as free midfield cover instead.
Primary source: Alan Nixon (Patreon), via Aston Villa News / Read Aston Villa · last corroborated July 19th.
| Date | What changed | |
|---|---|---|
| July 19th | Tracked | Rumor opened on the board at 11% (linked) — source: The Hard Tackle / Football FanCast. Celta Vigo have instructed intermediaries to find Moriba a Premier League move and the former Barcelona midfielder was offered to Villa on July 18th, alongside Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Hull. Celta, who closed the financial year around £13m down, are ready to sell for roughly €20m despite a €30m release clause; Villa were reported in early July to have weighed a bid nearer £15m. No approach has been confirmed, and the reporting sits at tier three. |
| July 19th | Moved | Likelihood rose from 11% to 22% (contact). Villa are prepared to pay around £15m for the midfielder, but Celta Vigo have rejected that valuation, per Alan Nixon on July 19th. Moriba also has reservations about the move, fearing he would be used mainly as a squad player behind Manzambi, Gomes and a returning Kamara, and is not pushing to leave Vigo at this stage. Both the fee gap and the player's stance would need to change before the deal can advance; the same report notes Villa are now weighing keeping Ross Barkley as free midfield cover instead. |
Timeline reflects our tracking history since the rumor joined the board, not every media mention. For everything Villa, live: the Verdict homepage.