A Real Madrid player has emerged as a potential Premier League target following the club’s unexpected defeat to Albacete.

The Spanish giants recently parted company with Xabi Alonso, whose tenure lasted just seven months after his appointment last summer.

Álvaro Arbeloa was swiftly named as his replacement and oversaw a painful Copa del Rey exit on Wednesday night.

Real Madrid were knocked out after a dramatic 3–2 loss to second-division Albacete, who sealed qualification with a late winner.

Although Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham were rested, Arbeloa still named a strong lineup featuring Vinícius Júnior, Arda Güler and Federico Valverde.

Real Madrid Midfielder Facing an Uncertain Future

Dani Ceballos remained on the bench throughout the match, a situation that has only intensified speculation about his future at the Santiago Bernabéu due to limited playing time this season.

The 29-year-old has featured in 11 league matches, most of them as a substitute.

Ceballos has now been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Aston Villa reportedly identifying him as a January target.

Spanish outlet Fichajes claims Villa turned their attention to the Real Madrid midfielder after missing out on Conor Gallagher, who joined Tottenham from Atlético Madrid.

Unai Emery is said to be driving the interest personally, hoping to leverage his previous relationship with Ceballos from their time together at Arsenal.

The Villa manager is keen to inject more technical quality and game control into his squad as the season enters a decisive phase.

Unai Emery’s Familiar Option from Arsenal Days

Ceballos spent two seasons on loan at Arsenal, playing first under Emery and later under Mikel Arteta, gaining valuable Premier League experience in the process.

Although his profile differs from Gallagher’s, Emery reportedly believes the Spaniard’s ability to dictate tempo and offer composure in midfield would be a perfect fit for Villa’s needs.

However, the report adds that any deal could prove complicated. Real Madrid are known to take a firm stance when it comes to players they value as rotation options, even if they are not regular starters.

Despite already having midfield options such as Youri Tielemans, Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana, Aston Villa appear eager to strengthen further as they push forward in their campaign, with Ceballos now firmly on their radar.