Aston Villa now hold talks to sign £30m “top-class player”

Aston Villa have now held talks to sign Christopher Nkunku, with AC Milan prepared to sell their striker for €35m (£30m).

Villa have been forced to look for a new centre-forward, as it has been widely reported that Ollie Watkins has agreed personal terms with Al-Hilal, with the Englishman in line to replace Karim Benzema.

Unai Emery is known to be an admirer of Nkunku, having spent time working with him at Paris Saint-Germain, and he has since gone on to gain experience in four of Europe’s top five leagues, while also impressing in the Champions League.

However, as shown, the Bundesliga is the only major domestic league in which the Frenchman has been relatively prolific, and he wasn’t exactly clinical for Milan last season, missing eight big chances.

That said, the 28-year-old was still singled out for some high praise by teammate Luka Modric, who said in December: “He deserved the goal. He works hard in training. We know that when strikers don’t score, they’re not happy. We hope this goal gives him a lot of confidence because we know what a top-class player he is. We’re here to help him and give him everything he needs. We’re happy for him.”

Aston Villa hold talks to sign Christopher Nkunku

Despite the former Chelsea man flattering to deceive in the Premier League, Aston Villa have now held talks with AC Milan and Nkunku’s agent regarding a potential move to Villa Park this summer.

The Serie A giants are willing to sell their striker, should they receive around €35m (£30m), and Newcastle United have also lodged an enquiry.

A number of other top clubs from across Europe are keen, so competition could be fierce, and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson remains under consideration as an alternative option, after returning from a loan spell with Bayern Munich.

The latest on Nicolas Jackson to Aston Villa

REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo

Aston Villa are now showing concrete interest in signing Jackson, with Chelsea prepared to cash-in, should they receive £60m, after sending the Senegalese marksman on loan to Bayern last season.

Nicolas Jackson’s Bundesliga performance

• 23 appearances
• 1,0004 minutes played
• 8 goals
• 2 assists
• 2 yellow cards

Emery knows Jackson well, as they worked together at Villarreal, and the striker has praised the Spaniard for the role he played in his development, saying: “Unai Emery taught me alot in football. He taught me everything.

“When I come from Senegal, I didn’t know. I knew how to play, but I didn’t understand how to run in the pitch. I was just running like crazy, taking the ball just dribbling, making my own stuff. I think he changed all that and made me a different player.”

As such, Jackson could be the ideal replacement for Watkins, who could be heading to the Saudi Pro League.