Aston Villa keen on Dani Ceballos and Marco Asensio

Aston Villa have stepped up their pursuit of Real Madrid misfit Dani Ceballos and remain hopeful of luring Marcos Asensio to Birmingham as well.

Though Villa’s bid to qualify for European competition for the first time since 2010/11 is not settled yet, the Lions are already making their first moves in the transfer window. 

In the latest update, Santi Aouna of Foot Mercato insists the Premier League side have tabled a ‘very important’ offer to sign Ceballos, who has no future at the Santiago Bernabeu. 

The midfielder’s contract at Madrid runs out at the end of the season, with Los Merengues showing no ambition to extend his stay after he failed to convince manager Carlo Ancelotti.

After a decent two-year loan at Arsenal, the 26-year-old returned to Madrid in 2021, but he has since been a marginal figure in Ancelotti’s set-up. 

He has only made 16 La Liga starts this season, finding himself behind long-serving stalwarts Luka Modric and Toni Kross in the pecking order, with Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga reducing his playing time even further.

Therefore, it’s no surprise Los Blancos are reluctant to offer him fresh terms, which seems to have encouraged Villa to make their move and bring the Spaniard back to the Premier League.

But Ceballos may not be the only Madrid star to switch to Villa Park, as Unai Emery reportedly holds Asensio in high esteem.

The left-footed forward could also be on his way out in the summer, with his deal expiring on June 30. 

Yet, unlike the former Real Betis midfielder, the 27-year-old winger wants to renew his contract with the record-time European champions, even though there’s been no breakthrough in extension talks.

Asensio’s priority is to stay in the Spanish capital, but time is running out, increasing Villa’s hopes of adding another household name to their well-knit roster.