Roberto Olabe has already hinted at the bold transfer strategy he’ll adopt at Aston Villa

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Aston Villa are closing in on the appointment of Roberto Olabe as a replacement for Monchi.

TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey has confirmed that Roberto Olabe is heading to Villa, with Monchi having played a part in his successor’s appointment.

Arsenal were linked with Olabe when attempting to replace Edu Gaspar, but the former Real Sociedad man is now set to take the reins at Aston Villa instead.

Olabe himself has previously spoken about the kind of approach he champions, which gives a good insight into how he could operate at Villa.

READ MORE: Who is Roberto Olabe? Meet the sporting director who found Alexander Isak and could join Aston Villa

Roberto Olabe calls for ‘patience’ in turning prospects into stars

Olabe has made no secret of the fact he likes to develop exciting young prospects into top players.

The Spaniard has also made clear that patience is a big virtue when it comes to this process.

“Time is an investment itself,” Olabe told Football Espana during a La Liga-hosted interview in 2023.

“Of course it is linked to money too, you have to give them the resources, but you have to invest time in the players. And we have the responsibility to give them chances.

“The demands of the elite are significant, but everyone has the responsibility to open doors for the youngsters.”

However, Olabe also stressed that he doesn’t mean patience in a sense of just sitting and waiting around.

“Patience is not waiting, it is looking for the limits and pushing, it is being persistent and persevering,” Olabe continued.

“Like all professions, you need time to learn, in an aggressive and immediate world, exposed to public opinion, we have to have patience and commit to the development of the youngsters.

“Patience isn’t folding your arms and waiting to see what happens, patience has to do with committing to their development and ensuring they are ready for the professional world.”

With that in mind, the likelihood is that Olabe could favour bringing in exciting prospects and promoting academy players, and allowing plenty time for them to be polished into real diamonds.

Roberto Olabe’s best signings at Real Sociedad

Olabe helped Real Sociedad enjoy their most successful period since the 1980s following the start of his tenure as sporting director in 2018.

Sociedad won the Copa del Rey in 2020 and regularly qualified for Europe, and only finished outside La Liga’s top 10 once under Olabe.

Olabe took a chance on Alexander Isak, Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino, all of whom shone for the Basque club.

Meanwhile, academy trio Mikel Oyarzabal, Martin Zubimendi and Robin Le Normand all became first-team stars.

In addition, David Silva and Nacho Monreal were signed in the twilight of their careers to bring experience and leadership to the dressing room – to great effect.