Aston Villa are always going to be linked to talented players in LaLiga because of the connections Unai Emery has to the league, as he won the Europa League as a coach for both Sevilla and Villarreal.
The Villains have found major success with a signing from LaLiga, too, as Emery brought over star center back Pau Torres from Villarreal, and he has proven to be an asset and one of the top center backs in the Premier League, too.
For the most part, Villa’s LaLiga transfer targets in 2025 have focused on the right back position, with a possible reunion between Emery and Villarreal right back Juan Foyth on the cards.
Now, Diario AS are linking Aston Villa to their biggest transfer target in LaLiga yet, as the Premier League top-four contenders are reportedly interested in signing Brais Mendez from Real Sociedad.
Previously Iago Aspas’s sidekick at Celta Vigo, Mendez joined La Real in 2022 and was an immediate LaLiga Player of the Season candidate, forming one of the best midfield tridents in world football alongside current Arsenal starter Mikel Merino and potential future Premier League star Martin Zubimendi.
After a strong follow-up season in 2023/24, Mendez is in the midst of arguably the worst season of his carer as a regular starter, struggling with just three goal contributions for Real Sociedad in the 2024/25 season with La Real outside the European places as a team.
That could give Aston Villa their opportunity to swoop in and buy the 27-year-old attacking midfielder at a low price, injecting a high level of technical quality into their squad.
Emery has proven adept at reviving talented players, particularly midfielders, with Youri Tielemans having a standout season here in 2024/25, bouncing back from a poor 2023/24 campaign.
Perhaps Mendez could bring that to the table for Aston Villa in 2025/26 as a smart signing from Real Sociedad. Monchi and Emery certainly have an eye for talent, and this is a transfer situation to watch closely in case there are more rumblings linking Mendez to Villa Park.
