Roberto Olabe can be instrumental in Aston Villa signing ‘world-class’ £52m star, Unai Emery needs him

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Aston Villa are working to appoint Roberto Olabe as their new sporting director, TBR Football understands.

Monchi is set to leave Villa after two years as the club’s president of football operations and the process of finding his replacement is already well underway.

In fact, Aston Villa have had their eye on Olabe for ‘several weeks’ and Monchi has been assisting in the process, sources have told TBR Football’s chief correspondent, Graeme Bailey.

Olabe was previously linked with Arsenal after Edu Gaspar’s departure, and he has been credited with making a number of eye-catching signings in his previous roles.

Villa will now hope he can broker another one, this time for them, after their dismal start to the season.

Roberto Olabe can help Aston Villa sign Takefusa Kubo

When Barcelona legend Xavi describes a player as “world-class”, you listen.

Takefusa Kubo has caught the eye of several big clubs after impressing for Real Sociedad since his arrival from Real Madrid in 2022, and Villa would be foolish not to join the queue.

Liverpool were linked to the tricky Japanese winger, while Zinedine Zidane once said Kubo was a “very interesting talent”, another example of glowing praise from a big name.

Swooping for the 24-year-old should be a no-brainer for Villa. After all, it was Olabe who brought him to Sociedad three years ago for a bargain price of just £5.6million. He’s now worth ten times that.

Strengthening the right wing must be a priority for Unai Emery and his new recruitment chief, and Kubo fits the bill. He has a release clause worth £52m and would surely be open to moving to the Premier League.

However, they must act quickly, ideally in January. The likes of Tottenham, Everton, West Ham and Bournemouth were all tipped to move for him in recent years, and the competition will be fierce again, especially with Kubo continuing to light up LaLiga.

Takefusa Kubo is a dream signing for Aston Villa

A left-footer who relishes dancing in from the right wing, Kubo would be the ideal signing for Villa.

He has made five appearances this season, scoring one goal, and has impressed again, enough to have reportedly landed Kubo on the radar of Arsenal, who are said to be eyeing up a move.

Kubo has played almost 150 matches in total since joining Sociedad, and he has more than shaken off his poor spell at Real Madrid, which saw him fail to make a single senior appearance between 2019-2022.

Despite the eye-catching headlines, he is humble and down to earth, and would provide the spark so desperately needed with Villa struggling to create chances and score goals.

Bringing him in must be one of the first items in Olabe’s in-tray in his new office.