According to a report in Football Insider, Chelsea are about to reach Aston Villa’s door in search of a new centre-forward as the new manager wishes to sign Ollie Watkins.
Nicolas Jackson did score several goals last season but he is just not cut out to lead the line which is why Chelsea want to sign a new centre-forward to fill that gap up top.
The Blues know very well that it will be very tough to convince Aston Villa to give up someone like Ollie Watkins which is why they are willing to offer Conor Gallagher in a swap deal. Gallagher has been linked with Villa in the past and Chelsea think Unai Emery would still be interested in the midfielder.
Do Chelsea need Ollie Watkins?
Jackson scored 14 goals last season in the Premier League but still, he has received more negative reviews and unless Chelsea bring in a new striker, they will never be able to compete with the other big boys.
The Blues have been linked with players like Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen but it seems like Enzo Maresca wants someone who’s tried and tested in the English top division.
Ollie Watkins has been with Villa since his €34 million move from Brentford and in four years, the forward has scored 70 goals and 26 assists in 169 games for the club. Last season, he had a staggering 32 goal contributions in just 37 league games under Unai Emery and he could very easily fit into Chelsea’s first team.
In the recently concluded campaign, Ollie Watkins had an xG of 16.88 from 47 shots on target plus he also created 45 chances.
Watkins is no less a goal-scorer than Osimhen or Ivan Toney and with the kind of season he’s just had, Maresca would love to make him his primary centre-forward and then use Nicolas Jackson as a backup.
Will Aston Villa agree to trade the 28-year-old for Conor Gallagher?
Unai Emery would love to have someone like Conor Gallagher on his team but Aston Villa will be playing in the Champions League next season and there’s no way the manager will want to lose a player as important as Ollie Watkins.
Watkins is Villa’s top goal contributor and it will take a hell of time and money to replace a talent like him. Also, the England forward is valued at €65 million while the Chelsea midfielder’s current valuation is €50 million so a straight swap is very much off the table.
With his contract expiring in 2028, Villa will want at least €100 million for their premier centre-forward which means if Chelsea are serious about signing him they will have to offer Gallagher plus €40-50 million for the England international.
Even then, we don’t think the Villa management will agree to cash in on such an important player, especially with top-tier European football just around the corner. The club will just not have the time to find an apt replacement for Ollie Watkins.
Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Aston Villa have agreed to sign Amadou Onana which means Unai Emery now has no need to sign Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher making a swap deal virtually impossible.
