Aston Villa in ‘official club to club talks’ with £60m attacker with 30 goals, 12 assists as Watkins ordeal continues

With Watkins seemingly determined to leave Villa Park before the transfer window closes, Emery and Villa’s recruitment team have moved quickly to identify a potential replacement.

Jackson has emerged as their preferred target.

Why Unai Emery wants Nicolas Jackson

Emery already knows Jackson well from their time together at Villarreal, giving the Villa boss an important advantage in assessing whether the striker can succeed at Villa Park.

The Senegal international possesses the pace and movement to operate effectively in a transition-based attacking system, while his ability to run in behind defensive lines could make him a natural replacement for Watkins.

Club
Apps
Goals
Assists

Chelsea
81
30
12

Villarreal
48
13
6

Bayern Munich
34
11
4

Villarreal CF B
27
7
8

CD Mirandés
17
1
1

Total
207
62
31

Nicolas Jackson stats via Transfermarkt

Jackson’s mobility would also allow Villa to maintain a dynamic attacking approach rather than simply replacing Watkins with a traditional target man.

For Chelsea, meanwhile, a permanent transfer worth more than £60 million would represent a significant opportunity to raise funds and reshape their squad.

With Villa already making progress on personal terms and formal negotiations now underway between the two clubs, Jackson’s potential move to Villa Park could accelerate quickly if the sides can reach an agreement over the final transfer fee and structure.