Aston Villa set to make move for ‘game-changing’ star raved about by former Brazil boss
Aston Villa are already making laying out their plans for the winter transfer window, as they hope to build on a strong recent recovery.
Donyell Malen scored twice as Villa beat Burnley 2-1 before the international break, marking four consecutive wins for Unai Emery‘s side.
Positive performances against Bologna, Fulham and Feyenoord had got the Villans back on track, and Sunday’s strong performance continued the fightback.
Malen attracted huge praise for his performance against Burnley, with the winger now set to spend the break with the Netherlands.
Emery had been under huge pressure at Villa following the dismal start to the season, but any immediate questions hanging over the Spaniard’s future appear to have been shelved, for now.
Aston Villa show interest in Brazilian starlet
Villa are reportedly interested in a move for Manuel Locatelli, with the midfielder reportedly open to leaving Juventus in the winter.
The Villans have faced plenty of disruption in the midfield so far this season, with Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana both facing extended injury layoffs.
The latter has now returned for Villa, but the former has suffered a further setback and is expected to be unavailable until after the November international break.
Boubacar Kamara, Lamare Bogarde, and John McGinn have stepped up brilliantly in the pair’s absence, but Emery will be aware that depth will be necessary once the fixture list grows more congested.
In that respect, the attack is also an area of consideration for decision-makers at Villa Park.
And on Wednesday, ESPN Brazil reported that Villa are among the sides to show interest in a move for Vasco da Gama talent Rayan.
The winger is enjoying a superb season in the Brazilian Serie A, and could be available for around £21million, given the fact that his contract expires in 2026.
- Read more: Aston Villa set for welcome payday as £10.4m sale to go through imminently away from Villa Park
‘Game-changing’ Rayan would be a coup for Villa
The likes of Tottenham have also joined Villa in their interest in Rayan, with the winger making a serious splash in Brazil.
Despite Vasco da Gama’s poor season, the 19-year-old has netted nine times in Serie A, adding to a total of 14 goals across all competitions this season.
Rayan is not the typical winger – his tall and stocky frame often sees him relying on his strength and technical ability to pass his defender, rather than his pace.
| Rayan | Serie A 2025 |
| Appearances | 25 |
| Goals | 9 |
| Shots | 74 |
| Chances created | 19 |
| Successful dribbles | 23 |
| Duels won | 124 |
But once with a sight of goal, the Brazilian is deadly. He starred for his nation’s Under-17s, scoring eight goals in just 14 games, and has already netted two for the U20s.
His manager at Vasco da Gama is former Brazil interim manager Fernando Diniz, who has raved about the talent.
“Rayan is a player with enormous game-changing ability, one of the biggest in the country,” the former Santos and Fluminense manager said.
“He is only 19, still learning to understand his own potential. There is a long road ahead, but he is a rare, very rare player“.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest Aston Villa news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account – @villanews247