The name being discussed in the boardrooms of both Birmingham and Newcastle this summer is Abde Ezzalzouli, and Aston Villa’s search for attacking reinforcements has brought them face-to-face with fierce competition. According to Sport, via Sport Witness, both Villa and Newcastle United are keeping a close eye on the Real Betis winger ahead of the 2026/27 season, with Betis reportedly holding out for a fee of around €40 million.
Aston Villa transfer target Abde Ezzalzouli sparks Premier League race
Villa’s interest isn’t new; it actually stretches back to August 2023, when they chased him during his time at Barcelona. Barcelona originally signed the Moroccan from Hércules for a small fee in 2021 before selling him to Betis in September 2023 for €7.5m, keeping a 20% sell-on clause in the process.
The 24-year-old has just enjoyed the best season of his career, racking up 14 goals and 13 assists in 42 games, with his performances playing a massive part in helping Betis book a historic return to the Champions League after 21 years. Manuel Pellegrini’s side seem prepared to lose him and are ready to do business, though Betis will hold a much stronger negotiating position if he has a strong World Cup with Morocco this summer. Newcastle scouts were reportedly in the stands during Betis’ win over Elche on May 13 to watch him live, showing just how serious the interest is on Tyneside.
Would Ezzalzouli’s traits actually work in Emery’s system?
Unai Emery has turned Villa into a team that thrives on smart movement and hard pressing from wide areas, and on paper, Ezzalzouli looks like a great option. Aston Villa seem to be looking at Ezzalzouli as a potential replacement for Morgan Rogers, whose future at Villa Park is still up in the air despite recently signing a new contract.
However, the truth is that Ezzalzouli does have a well-known flaw, as his final ball and decision-making can be frustratingly inconsistent when he cuts inside. As a right-footed player operating on the left, he often cuts in and draws defenders before taking a shot, but his finishing still needs to improve if he wants to excel at the very top level.
That said, Emery has a great track record of fixing exactly this kind of issue; he did it with Leon Bailey, turning him from a hot-and-cold winger into one of Villa’s most reliable attackers. That history is important. The Villa manager reportedly sees Ezzalzouli as the final piece of his frontline puzzle, and if Emery believes these flaws can be coached out of him, Villa fans have plenty of reason to be excited. The bigger challenge might just be the player’s hesitation to leave Spain; convincing him to move to the Premier League could end up being tougher than agreeing on the transfer fee.
Why the €40m price tag could dictate Villa’s entire summer window?
Real Betis are ready to sell the winger and want to bring in around €40 million, though they might hold off on making a final call until after the World Cup, hoping his value shoots up even more on the global stage. That stance leaves Villa in a tricky spot. Bringing in a player of this calibre would show real ambition as Villa prepare for Champions League football in 2026/27, and losing out on him, especially to a rival like Newcastle, would leave a glaring hole in Emery’s attacking options.
