Aston Villa are exploring the options of bolstering their attack and could be willing to provide the green light for the departure of Ollie Watkins.
Watkins has been massively linked with a move away from Villa Park this summer, and the 29-year-old forward could finally be heading for the exit doors. Aston Villa according to BirminghamWorld are poised to make a bid for Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, but must finalise finding a suitor for Watkins before proceeding to make their own purchase.
The transfer of Nicolas Jackson from the Blues could be a costly affair, and Villa might have to fork out £80 million to secure the services of the lanky attacker.
Unai Emery has worked with the attacker before at Villareal and is confident that his partnership with Jackson would massively benefit Aston Villa’s chances of European triumph in the UEFA Europa League in the upcoming season and indeed in the Premier League.
How does Nicolas Jackson feel about leaving London?
Chelsea are seemingly adamant on the massive price they are seeking for Nicolas Jackson, implying that Aston Villa will need to be keen on the idea of parting ways with Ollie Watkins.
Jackson cost the Stamford Bridge side £32 million 2 years ago from La Liga side Villareal, and the sharp rise in his asking price could be attributed to the changing dynamics in the transfer market. Despite a slow start at Chelsea, where Jackson has amassed 30 goals in 2 seasons, with 24 of them coming in the Premier League, the player could be in for a big-money transfer.
Speaking to Dsports regarding the speculation about his transfer, Nicolas Jackson had the following to say –
“I’m on a mission. It’s up to the coach to make his choices. I focus solely on my work. I’m a Chelsea player. The future belongs to God. If there are any changes, you’ll know. For now, I’m focused on my preparation.
It’s football, there are ups and downs. Last season we won two trophies. There were difficult moments, moments of glory. Every season is like that. But the most important thing is to stay focused, to learn, and to grow in the face of adversity.”
Unai Emery’s dilemma
Ollie Watkins has been often linked with a move away from Villa Park in recent times, and it is understood by reputable sources that the player has grown rather ‘restless’ due to the intense chatter and speculation.
Aston Villa are seeking a transfer fee in the region of £60 million for Watkins, with the player being on the wish list of Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United.
The two transfers could majorly shape how the season pans out for Aston Villa – after the club narrowly missed out on Europe’s premier club competition, the UEFA Champions League, on the final day of the 2024/25 season.
It remains to be seen if Nicolas Jackson and Ollie Watkins will undertake new challenges at new clubs this season but it looks like it is going to be a busy last few weeks of the transfer window with a number of strikers linked with big moves as one transfer is likely to trigger several more in a domino effect.