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21 Jul 2026 07:07-04:00
Aston Villa have reportedly held surprise discussions regarding a move for Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho after sanctioning Morgan Rogers' departure. Unai Emery's side are set to receive a windfall from Rogers' record-breaking £117 million switch to Stamford Bridge, and have immediately started searching for high-profile attacking reinforcements.
Villa explore shock swoop
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Targets emerge following sale
Prior to the surprise option of pursuing Garnacho, who is available to leave Chelsea, Villa had identified West Ham's Crysencio Summerville and Paris Saint-Germain youngsterIbrahim Mbaye as primary targets. Mbaye recently enlisted super-agent Jorge Mendes, who also represents Emery, to manage his future. Any definitive decision regarding Garnacho will heavily influence this pursuit, particularly withSummerville currently subject to a concrete bid from Serie A side Roma.
Emery eyes forward options
The report further details that should a deal for Garnacho fail to materialise or the player opt for another destination, Villa could shift their focus towards signing another Chelsea forward, Nicolas Jackson. Emery has been a long-standing admirer of Jackson since their time together at Villarreal, and Villa are exploring a permanent move for the striker.
Jackson's potential addition would give Villa three main choices up front, alongside Ollie Watkins and Tammy Abraham, though the latter could be sold if a suitable bid arrives.
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What comes next?
Villa's hierarchy must act decisively in the transfer market to finalise their attacking setup before the 2026-27 campaign begins. Replacing a key figure like Rogers requires Emery to quickly integrate his new recruits in order to maintain their competitive edge. Strategic decisions regarding their forward search are expected to be completed ahead of thePremier League's opening matchday in mid-August, with Villa set to kick off their campaign away at Brighton.