Unai Emery is hopeful Nicolas Jackson will complete his £47.5m move from Chelsea in time to make his Aston Villa debut against Arsenal on Monday, while Villa are finalising a move for the Paris Saint-Germain forward Ibrahim Mbaye. Emery said Jackson’s arrival would mark a “new chapter” at the club and Mbaye represents another longstanding target for the Villa manager. The 18-year-old winger, a Senegal teammate of Jackson, was among the players identified to strengthen a key position.
In recent days Villa pushed to sign Rafael Leão from Milan but the Portuguese winger is poised to join Galatasaray, whom Villa will visit in the Champions League. Jackson was Emery’s No 1 target to replace Ollie Watkins, who declined the offer of a new contract in favour of a £50m move to the Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal. Both deals are yet to be formally confirmed.
The one for Jackson could rise to a club-record £65m with add-ons. Emery said Watkins’s departure reduced him to tears and he revealed the England striker apologised to him and his teammates for refusing to play in the 4-0 defeat at Brighton last weekend, leaving Villa without a recognise striker. We accepted it, the players as well, because he always had very good behaviour and commitment with the club, with us and with me.
I told him bye with a huge hug and a small tear but now it’s a new chapter here with Nicolas Jackson. A new chapter, we replace him and of course all the best to Watkins in Saudi. With Nicolas Jackson replacing him, we are of course happy.” Emery dismissed the idea that the manner of Watkins’s departure could tarnish his standing among supporters.
Watkins is Villa’s record goalscorer in the Premier League era, with 91 goals across 221 league appearances. I was disappointed, but we spoke about it, and now clear. One mistake is not closing all the good things he did here.
For the supporters as well. He is class, and I think it’s a legacy here.” Emery said the £50m fees generated for Watkins, who will be 31 in December, and Konsa, who turns 29 in October, were “crazy” given their ages. It does not change our objectives.” Emery acknowledged his side must perform much better against Arsenal than did against Brighton to avoid a second successive defeat.
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