Aston Villa seal swoop for three-time Champions League winner

The Paris Saint-Germain forward has followed Marcus Rashford through the door in a further boost to Unai Emery’s attacking options.

Emery is a long-time admirer of Asensio, a three-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid.

The 29-year-old, who can play anywhere across the forward line, has struggled for game time this season and Villa have agreed a deal which will see them pay the whole of his salary, thought to be more than £200,000-a-week, in full.

Asensio is the club’s fourth signing of the transfer window, though their chances of adding a defender to the ranks in the final hours before deadline appear to be diminishing.

Chelsea’s Axel Disasi has been a prime target for Villa and the player himself was keen on making a loan move.

But Villa felt the fee Chelsea were demanding for the temporary switch was too high and an agreement looks unlikely to be reached at this point.

Emery is happy to wait until the summer if required to strengthen his defence, despite the sale of Diego Carlos leaving his squad light on numbers at the back.

Ezri Konsa is currently the only fit senior centre-half, with midfielder Boubacar Kamara having deputised at the back for the past two matches.