According to Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb, the 23-year-old has caught the eye of Villa's scouts and is now considered one of Emery's "main targets" for the summer window, with the Spaniard keen to add further depth and physicality to his midfield options.
Atta arrived at Udinese from Metz in 2024, initially on loan before the Italian club made the move permanent 12 months later, and has since made 63 appearances in all competitions, scoring six goals. He had previously featured 43 times for Metz, netting twice, before making the switch to Serie A.
The France-eligible midfielder, who can also represent Benin, has enjoyed a breakout campaign in Udine, registering five goals and three assists in Serie A this season, and his performances have already attracted interest from elsewhere in the Premier League, with reports linking him to a host of English clubs in recent months.
Standing at 6ft 2in, Atta is regarded as a powerful, ball-carrying presence capable of driving forward through midfield and breaking lines through running power rather than intricate passing, a profile that would complement Villa's existing options in that area of the pitch.
Villa are preparing for a busy summer as they look to freshen up their squad for the step up in physical and tactical demands that Champions League football will bring, having secured a return to Europe's top table via their Premier League finish last season.
Emery has previously shown a willingness to invest in athletic, progressive midfielders who can operate both defensively and in possession, and Atta's combination of size and carrying ability fits that mould closely, offering something different to the passing-focused profiles already in Villa's engine room.
Whether Villa move quickly to turn their interest into a formal offer remains to be seen, with Udinese unlikely to sanction a cut-price departure for a player they have tied down to a long-term contract following his rapid rise in Serie A.