Aston Villa told outcome of £26m bid for Kylian Mbappe’s ‘natural substitute’

Jan 11, 2026 - 11:30

Aston Villa are showing an interest in William Osula after being dealt a blow in their pursuit of Real Madrid wonderkid Gonzalo Garcia.

Garcia enjoyed the perfect start to the New Year after scoring his first senior hat-trick in a 5-1 rout of Real Betis on Sunday.

Garcia scored a hat-trick on only his second LaLiga start

The 21-year-old academy graduate burst on the senior scene at the Club World Cup last summer with four goals for Xabi Alonso‘s side.

However, the striker started just one of Los Blancos’ first 17 LaLiga matches this season, such is the depth of attacking talent on offer.

Kylian Mbappe‘s knee injury allowed Garcia a rare chance to impress in the starting XI against Betis, and the youngster didn’t disappoint.

The Spaniard joined Ruud van Nistelrooy in becoming only the second Real Madrid player in the 21st century to score a hat trick for his first La Liga goals.

His treble, alongside strikes from Raul Asencio and Fran Garcia, meant it was the first time that Real Madrid scored five goals through academy players in a LaLiga game for over 36 years, when Los Blancos downed Real Zaragoza 7-2 in 1989.

“This is Real Madrid, the competition is maximum here and I know that I am Mbappe’s natural substitute,” Garcia said. “But the coach and all my teammates always give me the confidence to do my best.

“In the end it’s true that it’s only a few minutes but because Mbappe is in front of me, and he has had a spectacular season with practically a goal per game.

“He’s the best player in the world so what I have to do is focus on myself and give my best in all the training sessions. I have to work to the maximum for when these opportunities arise.

“It’s a special afternoon, very happy with the goals but happier with the team’s performance and the victory.

“It’s really quite difficult to choose [between the goals]. They are three special goals so it is impossible to choose one.”

Aston Villa have been linked with a move for the Real Madrid starlet

Gonzalo Garcia transfer latest

The forward’s headline performance couldn’t have come at a worse time for Premier League clubs interested in signing him.

According to a report from Spanish outlet Fichajes, Aston Villa have submitted a £26million bid to sign Garcia.

European football expert Andy Brassell told talkSPORT.com: “Garcia, who’s just emerged at the right time, is really assured.

“For him to step up at a moment when the team desperately needed him, when they’re stretched through injuries, when they can’t win the league in the next week or two, but they can definitely fall out of the race, in this little three-week period where Mbappe is out.

“It’s a massive contribution for him. I can totally understand why Aston Villa would be interested in him.”

Emery’s side are looking to add more firepower this month

Aston Villa told striker solution won’t be Gonzalo Garcia

Villa are now showing an interest in Osula, talkSPORT understands.

Newcastle could be tempted to cash in on Osula, reports talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, who is also on the radar of clubs in Germany.

Brassell added: “Clearly, when you look at Villa trying to push forward in all competitions, they may be looking for that [Marcus] Rashford or [Marco] Asensio figure that they got in last January.

“But it won’t be Gonzalo Garcia. I find it really hard to imagine Real Madrid letting Gonzalo Garcia go at all, let alone in this window.”

“He was already a really valued member of the squad because he came through in the Club World Cup,” Brassell continued.

Garcia has stepped up in the absence of Mbappe

Newcastle United already have Erling Haaland-like striker who has ‘everything’ — Aston Villa are also showing an interest in Newcastle’s Osula

Disrupted the Real Madrid pecking order

“They brought him in because of various injuries. He gave them a forward presence that they hadn’t had since Joselu, who has easily forgotten that he played a big role, even if it was a peripatetic role in the team that won the Champions League in 2023/24.

“Gonzalo Garcia has got that presence, so he’s a good alternative for Real Madrid, but he’s got that little bit of extra class as well.

“We saw that with the hat-trick against Betis. It’s remarkable to think, because of the ease and the assurance with which he scored that hat-trick, it’s amazing to think that were his first LaLiga goals for Real Madrid, his first goals at the Bernabeu, because he scored four at the Club World Cup.

“You think, he’s an established first team guy now, isn’t he? No, not really. But he has disrupted the pecking order at Real Madrid.

“It’s the reason that they feel OK to let Endrick go to Lyon for the second half of this season. A very different type of striker.”