Sources: Aston Villa set aside funds for marquee signing with two top targets named
Aston Villa will make a marquee striker signing their top priority in the summer window, sources have told Football Insider.
Sources told this site last week (11 February) that manager Unai Emery has taken a more hands-on approach to transfers – and he has earmarked the club’s striking options as an area for improvement.
Ollie Watkins has been left with the goalscoring burden following the January departure of Danny Ings to West Ham.
It is believed that a wide forward could also be on the agenda for the Midlands giants in another money-spinning summer window.
Emery could return for January target Gerard Deulofeu or launch a move for Villarreal forward Nicolas Jackson – who had a close relationship with the Spanish boss at his former club.
Ings left for West Ham in a reported £15million deal – just 18 months after arriving at Villa Park.
Young Colombia international Jhon Duran arrived at the club earlier in the January window, but Emery has played down his chances of playing regular senior football this season.
As quoted by Birmingham Live (30 January), Emery laid bare his desire to bring in a new striker signing following Ings’ departure – but no such deal materialised in the window’s final days.
Watkins has responded well to the pressure of becoming the club’s only established Premier League forward – scoring in his last three top-flight outings.
He has notched roughly one goal every three games since signing for Aston Villa in 2020.
Aston Villa, who are yet to record a top-half finish since returning to the Premier League, sit 11th in the table.
The club’s owners, Naseef Sawiris and Wes Edens, spent a reported £89million on new faces across both windows this season.
In other news, Football Insider updates with ever-present Aston Villa star ready to quit this summer.