Aston Villa are reportedly interested in signing Villarreal star Yeremi Pino in the January transfer window and he could prove to be Unai Emery's next Juan Mata.

The Daily Star, via Birmingham Live, suggested recently that the new Villa boss is keen on a reunion with his former Villarreal star as he looks to bolster his attacking options in January.

Emery joined Villarreal at the start of the 2020/21 campaign and was the manager to give Pino his first-team debut for the club, with the exciting young talent a regular with the Yellow Submarine ever since.

Pino has played 96 matches in all competitions for the Spanish side, scoring 15 goals and providing six assists, so it is easy to see why Villa are keen on bringing him to the Premier League.

The versatile attacking midfielder, who was dubbed “incredible” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, may only have one goal and no assists to his name in La Liga this season, but he has clearly still impressed with his performances, as it was confirmed on Friday that he would travel to Qatar with Spain's World Cup squad.

Villa fans, and Emery, will no doubt keep an eye on the electric talent in Qatar in the hope that he could arrive at Villa Park in the not-too-distant future.

Should he be reunited with Emery in the Premier League, he could have a similar impact to the one Mata did under the Spanish manager at Valencia.

Emery managed at the Mestalla Stadium between 2008 and 2012 and helped to develop the former Chelsea and Manchester United star into the player that was so successful in the Premier League.

He would make 141 appearances under the 51-year-old (the most of any manager in his career), contributing a superb 37 goals and 50 assists, which led to his 2011 move to Stamford Bridge.

Mata would remain in the Premier League until earlier this year when he was released by Manchester United, with the creative midfielder no doubt recognised as one of the best attacking midfielders of the Premier League era.

Pino's scouting report on FBref scores him above the 90th percentile for non-penalty goals, touches in the attacking penalty area, non-penalty expected goals and assists, and progressive passes received, which emphasises that like Mata, he loves to get forward and be an influence in the final third.

If the 20-year-old could follow a similar career path to Mata and enjoy some of his best football under Emery at Villa Park having already starred under him at Villarreal, he would surely prove to be a superb addition to the squad.