Aston Villa are seemingly eyeing a January swoop for Borussia Mönchengladbach striker Marcus Thuram, according to recent reports.

What’s the latest?

As per Sky Sports Germany (via Sport Witness), the Midlands outfit are reportedly ready to move for the Frenchman in the coming window after news that the German club are faltering financially.

With the 25-year-old’s contract due to expire in the summer, this represents the final opportunity to garner a fee for their star man, who was reportedly available for €40m (£35m) in the summer of 2021. This fee will surely have diminished now given their ever-worsening financial situation.

With clubs such as Arsenal and Crystal Palace also named as interested parties, Unai Emery will want to act quickly to secure this signing which would prove a sensational coup.

Emery’s new Martinelli

Whilst manager of the Gunners, the Spaniard was involved in plenty of transfers which have gone on to earn success at the Emirates.

One such name who could draw comparisons to this ongoing deal for the Villans is Gabriel Martinelli, who similarly to Thuram, can feature on both the left wing and up front.

The Brazilian youngster seems to now have grown into the player Emery clearly thought he could become, with five goals and two assists already this season.

Both boasting blistering speed and quick feet, Martinelli ranks in the top 18% and Thuram in the top 8% respectively for dribbles completed of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe's big five leagues over the last 365 days.

However, what they more importantly share is a keen eye for goal, despite the French forward appearing to be more of a finished article than the 21-year-old was when he brought first arrived in north London.

This is exemplified by his sensational start to the Bundesliga season, where he has already scored 13 goals and registered four assists in 17 games in all competitions.

Not only is he clearly more proficient than Martinelli, but physically he is near-unstoppable. The Parma-born marksman pairs his pace with a 6 foot 3 frame, with French coach Herve Renard seeing fit to label him a “physical monster”.

To tempt him to Villa Park would mark a sensational piece of business, and talent as “phenomenal” as he is – as dubbed by former teammate Denis Zakaria – are sure to take the club to the next level.

They must pounce on this opportunity, as few as lucrative as this will appear again for a long time.