Ilaix Moriba to Aston Villa from Celta Vigo
Verdict Delivered
This rumor DIED. It was dropped from the board after going quiet, last rated 2%.
| Move | Celta Vigo → Villa |
| Outcome | Never happened |
| Rated at the end | 2% |
| Resolved | August 3rd |
Villa are now expected to walk away. El Desmarque reported on July 20th that the arrivals of João Gomes and Johan Manzambi have left Unai Emery's midfield sufficiently stocked — with Boubacar Kamara, Ross Barkley and Lamare Bogarde as further options through the middle — and that a move for the 23-year-old is increasingly unlikely unless circumstances change before the window shuts. The same report claims Villa made an offer a few weeks ago, a claim little supported elsewhere. Earlier in the window Villa were prepared to pay around £15m, per Alan Nixon on July 19th, only for Celta Vigo to reject that valuation, and Moriba himself had reservations about a squad role behind Manzambi, Gomes and a returning Kamara. Only Amadou Onana's long-term absence is seen as capable of reopening it.
How the Story Moved
| 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. |
| July 21st | Moved | Likelihood fell from 22% to 6% (cooling). Villa are now expected to walk away. El Desmarque reported on July 20th that the arrivals of João Gomes and Johan Manzambi have left Unai Emery's midfield sufficiently stocked — with Boubacar Kamara, Ross Barkley and Lamare Bogarde as further options through the middle — and that a move for the 23-year-old is increasingly unlikely unless circumstances change before the window shuts. The same report claims Villa made an offer a few weeks ago, a claim little supported elsewhere. Earlier in the window Villa were prepared to pay around £15m, per Alan Nixon on July 19th, only for Celta Vigo to reject that valuation, and Moriba himself had reservations about a squad role behind Manzambi, Gomes and a returning Kamara. Only Amadou Onana's long-term absence is seen as capable of reopening it. |
| August 3rd | Verdict | Rumor died — dropped from the board at 6% |
Timeline since the rumor joined the board.