El Aynaoui attracting interest from Aston Villa and Premier League clubs
Quick summary
Midfielder El Aynaoui is reportedly attracting interest from Aston Villa and other Premier League clubs, potentially moving from Italian football to England.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceRoma midfielder Neil El Aynaoui has reportedly been targeted by Aston Villa as a potential replacement for Youri Tielemans, but they aren’t the only Premier League club interested.
ROME, ITALY – APRIL 18: Ederson of Atalanta challenges Neil El Aynaoui of AS Roma during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Atalanta BC at Stadio Olimpico on April 18, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) All the focus might’ve been on Manu Koné and his impressive performances for France, but the 2026 World Cup also acted as a showcase for some other Giallorossi midfielders.
El Aynaoui shone for Morocco and the 25-year-old is attracting a lot of interest from the Premier League.
Aston Villa watching El Aynaoui ROME, ITALY – NOVEMBER 27: Neil El Aynaoui of AS Roma celebrates with his teammate after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between AS Roma and FC Midtjylland at Stadio Olimpico on November 27, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) According to Africa Soccer and Voce Giallorossa , the club most closely tracking his progress is Aston Villa, who see the 22-year-old as an ideal replacement for Tielemans.
They sold Tielemans to Manchester United for €41m and can reinvest that in picking up El Aynaoui.
It is reported they already sent scouts to view him several times, and are impressed with his work rate and aggressive approach.
Roma paid €23.5m plus add-ons, including a percentage of the future sale fee, to get him from RC Lens last summer.
His value has already practically doubled after just 34 competitive games, where he scored two goals and provided two assists.
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What happened
According to Football Italia, El Aynaoui has emerged as a transfer target for Aston Villa and other Premier League sides. The midfielder, currently playing in Italy, is drawing attention from English clubs who are reportedly monitoring his situation. A potential move would represent a significant step in his career and signal growing Premier League interest in Serie A talent.
Chance analysis
Transfer interest from Premier League clubs in a Serie A midfielder is a common pattern, with English clubs frequently exploiting Italian football's financial constraints. For Aston Villa, pursuing El Aynaoui would align with their recruitment strategy of signing technically capable, younger players with growth potential. The market relevance depends on the player's current standing and the likelihood of the transfer materializing before upcoming fixtures.
Potential departure would weaken El Aynaoui's current Italian club in midfield if the transfer completes; Aston Villa would gain midfield depth if they secure his signature.
If El Aynaoui is a key player in his current Italian club, monitor his availability and morale in upcoming matches as transfer speculation could affect performance.