Aston Villa are aiming to strengthen their attacking options as uncertainty surrounds Ollie Watkins’ potential departure from Villa Park.
The club are understood to be pursuing Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee alongside Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson, with Watkins currently in negotiations regarding an exit from the Midlands side.
According to reports, Unai Emery’s team have signalled their readiness to meet Chelsea’s asking price for the Senegalese frontman, with a £65million package on the table. The club have tracked the player for some time.
Emery worked with Jackson during their spell together at Villarreal and Villa are now exploring how they can satisfy Chelsea’s price expectations.
Should an agreement be reached at that £65million level including additional payments, it would represent the highest amount the club has ever paid for a player. However, it remains uncertain whether Chelsea would accept the full sum being transferred in a single payment.
Securing Jackson’s signature would pave the way for Watkins to complete a move to Saudi Arabian Pro League club Al-Hilal, with the Chelsea forward reportedly willing to make the switch to Villa Park.
Jackson has been separated from Chelsea’s first-team squad in training recently and was omitted from the squad that faced Fulham on Monday evening.
Separate reports suggest Villa are monitoring events at Manchester United regarding Zirkzee, whose future at Old Trafford appears uncertain.
Italian club Juventus lead the race to sign the Netherlands international, although they are proposing a loan arrangement with a mandatory purchase clause.
Villa would be unable to match such an offer, having already completed two domestic loan signings this window – securing Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea and Aaron Wan-Bissaka from West Ham United.