Why Unai Emery is the man who can unlock Ilaix Moriba's potential at Aston Villa
Aston Villa would require patience in order to see the best of Ilaix Moriba, Villa News has exclusively been told.
Unai Emery's midfield engine room is undergoing some major renovation works this summer.
Youri Tielemans has left for Manchester United, and Amadou Onana's ACL injury has seemingly forced Villa to go deeper into this market as well.
But, reinforcements in the shape of Joao Gomes and Johan Manzambi are on the way, and Celta Vigo star Ilaix Moriba may also be bound for Villa Park.
The 23-year-old has been with the La Liga side for the last two seasons, helping them record seventh and sixth-placed finishes in the Spanish top flight.
But, if he is to make the move to the West Midlands before the window shuts, then Emery's role in making his B6 switch a success would be more crucial than normal.
Ilaix Moriba's attitude struggles and how Celta Vigo have fixed it
Villa News has been covering Aston Villa's reported interest in signing Moriba this summer.
Indeed, late last month saw Faro De Vigo claim that Villa were one of a host of sides across European football.
A product of Barcelona's fabled La Masia academy system, the Guinean international made 18 competitive appearances for Barca's first-team, but wasn't able to stick at Camp Nou.
Spells with RB Leipzig and loan moves to Valencia and Getafe respectively followed, but he's been with Celta Vigo since the summer of 2024, and has been a major hit there.
Speaking exclusively with Villa News, Radio Marca Vigo presenter and Vigo match commentator Alex Rodriguez Silva-Fernandez has offered some expert insight into how Moriba overcame some attitude issues with the Galicia-based outfit.
"The debate wasn't focused on his football abilities, it was focused on his attitude," he said.
"Moriba was a player that, because of his young age and early eruption, had attitude problems, first in Barcelona, then in Leipzig, then in Valencia and then in Getafe.
"This was his presentation card; a player with a huge potential but with a lot of expectations to meet, that was why he got to Vigo on loan and not on a transfer.
"From the very beginning he got along pretty well with the coach Claudio Giráldez. It's one of the main reasons why he was so comfortable on the pitch.
"Instantly he became a starter and one of the most important players of the team because of the confidence Giráldez placed in him."
Clearly then, ensuring that there's a strong relationship between manager and player is vital to getting the best out of Moriba, and Emery, of course, has widely acknowledged excellent man-management skills.
So, if Aston Villa want to sign Moriba this summer, how much will Celta Vigo demand for him and would he be an instant success at Villa Park?
Champions League confidence placed in Moriba
Still only 23, Moriba is still a good few years away from hitting his prime just yet.
To already be starring in La Liga then is impressive, and it would also appear that he's a maturing player who could be a match made in heaven for Emery.
However, speaking further with Villa News, Silva-Fernandez has warned Villa fans not to expect instant results with him if he was to sign, as well as revealing the price range Vigo hold him in.
"He is young, but I think he can be prepared to do that jump to a Champions League team, but not as a starter," he continued.
"The competition in his position can be hard for him, but Emery can be key to unlock his full potential, not next season, but with patience on him, but most important, trust on his characteristics.
"One of the keys of his good performances in Vigo was the coach and the trust that he deposited on Moriba, he has the football inside, but it's really important to understand the way he performs the best.
"Taking a look to the prices that the Premier League teams are paying for young players, someone like Moriba should be worth between €20-30 million euros (£16.9-25.4m). Celta is asking and expect to receive at least €20m."
Moriba definitely sounds like an enigmatic ball of clay that Emery could have a lot of fun moulding into a future star, but it remains to be seen whether the aforementioned expected midfield arrivals hamper his Villa Park transfer chances.