Aston Villa look increasingly likely to hand Alejandro Garnacho a fresh start, and Unai Emery will hope the Argentine can deliver.
Reports suggest Villa are closing in on a season-long loan deal with a conditional obligation to buy after Emery personally pushed for the move. The Spaniard has apparently admired Garnacho for some time and believes he can unlock the winger’s enormous potential after a frustrating spell at Chelsea.
Garnacho is still only 22 but already has significant Premier League experience and has shown he can produce moments of real quality in one-on-one situations.
His pace, direct running and willingness to attack defenders would give Villa another genuine outlet following Morgan Rogers’ departure, while Emery has earned a reputation for improving talented players whose careers have stalled.
That said, his decision-making in the final third has often been questioned and consistency has proved difficult to find over the past year.
Villa would also be taking on a player whose confidence has clearly suffered at Stamford Bridge, and there is no guarantee he’ll return to his best, so taking him on an initial loan is a very smart move by NSWE.
Nicolas Jackson could represent another intriguing addition.
Villa are reportedly interested in bringing the Senegal international to Villa Park alongside Garnacho as Emery looks to strengthen his striking options.
Jackson previously worked under Emery at Villarreal, where the Villa boss helped accelerate his development before his move to Chelsea.
That existing relationship could definitely help to factiliate the deal.
Since arriving in England he has managed 30 goals in 81 appearances for the Blues, and spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich and playing second fiddle to Harry Kane.
His best year in west London came during the 2023/2024 season, his debut year in the Premier League, where he managed 17 goals in all competitions and helped Chelsea qualify for Europe.
Aston Villa ‘looking to seal double deal’ for Garnacho and Jackson
According to Standard Sport journalist Sam Tabuteau, Aston Villa are exploring the possibility of a ‘double deal’ for Garnacho and Jackson after already sealing the former.
Tabuteau reports that Jackson is open to leaving Chelsea, with Villa interested in striking a deal as they move closer to completing Garnacho’s arrival.
Emery is already rebuilding after losing one of his biggest attacking stars and appears determined to replace quality with quality rather than relying on one marquee signing.
Chelsea remain in control of negotiations, particularly regarding Jackson, with Garnacho’s move now getting the ‘here we go’ from Fabrizio Romano on Wednesday afternoon.
Even so, Villa’s strategy makes sense.
Rather than simply replacing one player, Emery appears to be targeting two footballers who still possess considerable room for improvement.
If both rediscover the form they showed earlier in their careers, Villa could emerge from a solid summer with an even deeper and more versatile attacking squad.
