BREAKING ✅: “No More Wasteful Nicholas Jackson, Thank You Todd Boehly” Jubilations Rock Stamford Bridge As Chelsea Finally Complete £65M Deal For “PROVEN GOALSCORER”
A report from Football Insider indicates that Chelsea are approaching Aston Villa for a new center-forward, as the new manager aims to sign Ollie Watkins.
Nicolas Jackson, despite scoring several goals last season, is not seen as a long-term solution for leading the attack. Hence, Chelsea is seeking a new center-forward to fill this role.
Aware of the challenge in persuading Aston Villa to part with Ollie Watkins, Chelsea is considering offering Conor Gallagher in a swap deal. Gallagher has previously been linked with Villa, and Chelsea believes that Unai Emery would still be interested in the midfielder.
Do Chelsea Need Ollie Watkins?
Despite Jackson’s 14 goals in the Premier League last season, his performance has received mixed reviews. Without a new striker, Chelsea’s ability to compete with top clubs remains in question.
Chelsea has been linked with Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen, but it appears Enzo Maresca prefers a player with proven experience in the English Premier League.
Ollie Watkins, who joined Villa for €34 million from Brentford, has scored 70 goals and provided 26 assists in 169 games over four years. Last season, he contributed 32 goals in 37 league games under Unai Emery and could seamlessly integrate into Chelsea’s first team.
In the last season, Watkins had an expected goals (xG) of 16.88 from 47 shots on target and created 45 chances.
Watkins is a prolific goal-scorer, comparable to Osimhen or Ivan Toney. Given his recent performance, Maresca would likely want him as the primary center-forward, using Nicolas Jackson as a backup.
Will Aston Villa Agree to Trade the 28-Year-Old for Conor Gallagher?
While Unai Emery might welcome a player like Conor Gallagher, Aston Villa’s participation in the Champions League next season makes it unlikely they would want to lose an essential player like Watkins.
Watkins is Villa’s top goal contributor, and replacing him would require significant time and investment. Furthermore, Watkins is valued at €65 million, whereas Gallagher’s current valuation is €50 million, making a straight swap unlikely.
With Watkins under contract until 2028, Villa would demand at least €100 million for their top center-forward. Therefore, if Chelsea is serious about acquiring Watkins, they would need to offer Gallagher plus an additional €40-50 million for the England international.