da realbet： Aston Villa roared back as Premier League title contenders when they convincingly beat Nottingham Forest on Saturday lunchtime.

da pinnacle： Heading into this clash, Unai Emery’s men did have their confidence dented by a 4-1 loss on the road to league leaders Arsenal, but they managed to respond in style by getting the better of Sean Dyche’s men with ease, as Ollie Watkins and John McGinn were in amongst the goals for the free-flowing hosts.

Emery will be looking at the transfer window as a chance to bring in some reinforcements to ensure their title charge doesn’t take any more noticeable wobbles, as a surprise move for an attacker – already situated in the Premier League – is allegedly in the works.

Aston Villa plan exciting move for £59m star

The summer window didn’t see lots of switches take place at Villa Park, with Evan Guessand’s arrival from OGC Nice the standout move, having cost Emery and Co a bumper £26m fee.

With both Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott arguably not working as loan incomings, too, Villa could bring in Borussia Dortmund playmaker Julian Brandt in January as a fresh midfield presence, with the creative German’s contract is set to expire this coming summer.

Villa are ‘making a move’ for Manchester City attacker Omar Marmoush, as per a new report from TEAMtalk, with whispers that the £59m star is on the Premier League side’s radar emerging from Egypt, as the City number seven competes for his nation at the African Cup of Nations.

The report further states that Tottenham Hotspur have made enquiries regarding the Cairo-born forward, but even with a whole host of clubs taking a fancy now in the reserve City striker, it is also noted that Pep Guardiola’s men are not keen on the idea of giving up the ex-Eintracht Frankfurt forward mid-season.

Still, Marmoush would surely love a move to the West Midlands if it means more game time suddenly becomes available to the 26-year-old.

Emery could even seal another Jhon Duran-style deal by winning the Egyptian’s signature, as the Spaniard transformed the 22-year-old hotshot into a £64m asset during a whirlwind Villa stint.

How Marmoush could be Emery's next Duran

Duran was a sudden arrival on English shores mid-way through the 2023/24 season, costing the Villans around £18m to bring in from MLS outfit Chicago Fire.

He instantly made an impact as a gung-ho forward presence hungry for goals, leading to the Colombian bagging 20 goals in total for Emery’s men from 78 clashes.

Amazingly, 12 of those strikes came the South American’s way in the Premier League from only seven starts, with Emery going on to hail Duran as “special” for how many times he bailed the Villans out of trouble in attack as an impact player.

Marmoush would hope he could be as impactful from minute one of his Villa career if a move were to materialise, with the number seven a devastating attacking presence – much like Duran during his Villa prime – at the peak of his powers in the Bundesliga. Before heading to the Etihad, he collected a stunning 15 goals and nine assists from just 17 league appearances during his final Frankfurt campaign.

Marmoush vs Duran: Career

Stat

Marmoush

Duran

Games played

259

188

Minutes played

14,932 mins

8,930 mins

Goals scored

79

53

Assists

36

14

Hat-tricks

2

0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

He has also shone in spurts at the Etihad, despite Guardiola not always handing him the most consistent opportunities, with seven Premier League strikes next to his name, from only 1389 minutes of action. Duran would only be handed 1214 minutes himself, as Emery eyes up another sensational mid-season capture.

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Collecting one assist for his troubles, too, from a minimal 233 minutes in the league this season, the £59m “maverick” – as scout Ben Mattinson labelled him when he was scoring goals for fun at Frankfurt – could well explode into life in the West Midlands, if utilised as another Duran-like presence by the ex-Arsenal manager.

Also capable of a long-range bullet like Duran, as seen in this goal of the season contender last campaign ripping the back of the net against AFC Bournemouth, this might be an inspired addition that enables Villa to remain near the top of the Premier League standings, if the likes of Watkins fall victim to another barren stretch of form.

This does feel like somewhat of an unlikely capture, but Villa have been before in tempting another outcast from Manchester to call Villa home in Marcus Rashford, with Marmoush aiming to resurrect his Premier League playing days in a similar style if a switch does occur.

Stuart Pearce says Aston Villa star was unstoppable against Nottingham Forest

The Villans cruised to a 3-1 win this afternoon.

ByEmilio Galantini