Aston Villa could make a bold move to land Chelsea playmaker Hakim Ziyech this winter, in a deal that could land Unai Emery his next Juan Mata.

Since arriving at Villa Park in October, Emery has been something of a revelation, winning five of his first seven Premier League matches and swiftly revitalising the energy levels that had been left depleted by the beleaguered Steven Gerrard, dismissed from managerial duty after only 11 months in charge.

While laudable progress has already been made, there is work to be done within the transfer market to achieve a level of performance that will leave the Midlands outfit ready to compete at the forefront of the Premier League, in-and-around European contention on a regular basis, and Chelsea's Moroccan maestro Ziyech would indeed be a sterling addition.

According to The Athletic, the 29-year-old attacking midfielder is a name being considered by Emery as he looks to bolster the flanks before the closing of the window next week, and Ziyech, who has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this season after signing for £33m in 2020, could be a diamond acquisition for an outfit on the top.

Emery's next Mata

Emery is a manager with high hopes for his tenure with the Claret & Blue, and should he be granted his transfer wishes in 2023 there is no reason why his burgeoning side can continue to make incremental gains towards a place on the European platform once again.

Indeed, the one-time continental champions, partnered with Emery's four triumphs in the Europa League, could finally bring success back to Villa Park.

Considering Villa are gelling together more securely with each passing match week, Ziyech's creativity and ingenuity could add a vital layer onto the collective threat, with his career average of 2.6 key passes, 1.7 crosses and 2.6 long balls per game - as per WhoScored - potentially reaping rewards for Emery and his club.

Notably, the silky” - as dubbed by Oliver Young-Myles - star's frequent output with distance passes could be a key cog in Emery's transitional system, splaying balls from afar and breaking backlines with his powerful precision, with speedsters such as Olly Watkins and Leon Bailey perhaps benefiting.

He could emulate the success of veteran playmaker Juan Mata, who plied his trade under his compatriot Emery at Spanish La Liga outfit Valencia before earning a £23.5m move to Chelsea in 2011.

Mata, who holds the most assists of any player to star under Emery's wing - serving 50 goals and scoring 37 himself across three campaigns under the Spaniard - was a revelation and a centrepiece to the high-profile managerial appointment of Emery's career.

And with the 34-year-old going on to forge an immensely successful career, scoring 141 goals and providing 159 assists across the entirety of his professional football, Ziyech could certainly benefit from following his blueprint and allowing the distinguished Emery to utilise his creative capabilities.

With the 51-year-old Emery somewhat accustomed to gilt-edged success, he will attempt to bolster his resurgent outfit with signings that can make a genuine difference over the coming seasons, and with Ziyech a "monster" - as once hailed by Squawka - of a player with a wealth of experience across multiple fronts, and with a Champions League trophy to substantiate his prowess, he could be the catalyst for an exciting new era at Aston Villa.