Aston Villa Pursue Mateta and Leao Amid Watkins Uncertainty
Aston Villa have opened talks with Crystal Palace over Jean-Philippe Mateta and are in negotiations with AC Milan for Rafael Leao, as uncertainty around Ollie Watkins’ future continues to dominate the final stretch of the window.
Al Hilal are pushing hard to lure Watkins to the Saudi Pro League. The club are in discussions with Villa and have already seen at least one offer rejected. The chase has left Villa scrambling to redraw their attacking plans with Deadline Day looming on September 1.
Watkins’ absence from Sunday’s 4-0 hammering at Brighton only deepened the sense of drama. Left out of the match-day squad, the England striker became the story after full-time when Unai Emery, asked why his No 9 was missing, simply replied to Sky Sports: “Ask him. I only can answer it by silence.”
Reports since have suggested Watkins returned to training on Monday and apologised to his team-mates for not being involved at the weekend. But the cloud over his future remains.
Mateta talks underline Villa’s need for a focal point
Against Brighton, Villa’s lack of a recognised centre forward was brutally exposed. Emi Buendia and Ross Barkley were pressed into service as makeshift strikers, with Tammy Abraham and 17-year-old Brian Madjo both injured and Watkins unavailable.
That backdrop explains the move for Mateta. Villa have had the Palace striker on their radar since at least the winter window and have now made initial contact. The 29-year-old, who has just one year left on his deal at Selhurst Park, started in Palace’s 2-0 defeat to Everton at the weekend.
There is, though, a gap in valuation between the clubs. Palace know they risk losing him for nothing next summer but are not prepared to let him go on the cheap. Villa, juggling several attacking targets, are reluctant to overpay with other options in play.
Leao the headline act in Emery’s rebuild
The real headline, though, is Leao. Villa are serious about bringing the Portugal international to the Premier League and have already opened a dialogue with Milan. Both clubs are now in active negotiations, working against the clock to find an agreement before the window closes.
Leao, who has signalled he is open to the move, offers exactly the kind of versatility Emery craves. He can lead the line, operate as a second striker or attack from the left. Last season he scored nine goals and added three assists in 29 Serie A appearances, numbers that hint at his threat even in a period when his stock has dipped slightly on the global stage.
That drop in status is precisely what makes him attainable. And Emery has previous when it comes to restoring careers. Just look at the leap Marcus Rashford made under him, or how Morgan Rogers and Watkins themselves have kicked on at Villa Park.
With Youri Tielemans, Rogers, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa already gone and the futures of Watkins and Emiliano Martinez in the balance, this is a squad being ripped apart and hastily reimagined. Villa need more than bodies; they need a new attacking reference point. Leao, in theory, plugs that star-shaped hole.
Sky Sports’ Patrick Rowe framed it simply: Leao can replicate Rogers’ output and flexibility across the front line, driving at defenders and threatening goal from all angles. Villa can offer him Champions League football, a prominent role in Emery’s system and a stage to relaunch himself in the Premier League. On paper, it fits both sides.
Former Milan and Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic went even stronger on Sky Sports, calling Leao an “incredible signing” for Villa. He highlighted the forward’s pace, power and skill, insisting his physical profile and talent are tailor-made for English football and arguing that a stable role under Emery could unlock a level of consistency that has eluded him amid managerial churn at Milan.
Jackson on the radar if Watkins goes
Leao is not the only name on Villa’s attacking shortlist. The club have long admired Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, who is expected to leave Stamford Bridge before the deadline and is attracting interest from Napoli and several other sides.
Sky Sports News has previously reported that Villa are likely to move for Jackson if Watkins is sold to Al Hilal. Jackson’s mobility and work rate would offer another modern, press-leading option through the middle, though any bid would depend heavily on how the Watkins saga plays out over the coming days.
For now, Villa are trying to cover every base. Watkins’ future hangs in the balance, Mateta is the subject of a valuation stand-off, and talks with Milan over Leao are gathering pace.
Deadline Day is close. Emery’s forward line could look very different by the time it arrives.
