Aston Villa's New Chapter: Unai Emery on Jackson's Arrival
Unai Emery says Aston Villa are ready to turn the page.
The Spaniard expects Nicolas Jackson to complete his £47.5m switch from Chelsea in time to face Arsenal on Monday night, a move he describes as the start of a “new chapter” after the painful exit of Ollie Watkins.
Watkins out, Jackson in
Jackson was Emery’s first-choice replacement once it became clear Watkins would not sign a new deal and instead push through a £50m move to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. Neither transfer has been formally confirmed yet, but Jackson’s fee could climb to a club-record £65m with add-ons.
Watkins’s departure has cut deep. Not just because of the goals. Because of the way it ended.
The England striker refused to play in last weekend’s 4-0 defeat at Brighton, leaving Villa without a recognised centre-forward. Emery did not hide how much it hurt.
“He told us after the match he was sorry and he told us that he made a mistake, that he was wrong,” Emery said. “We accepted it, the players as well, because he always had very good behaviour and commitment with the club, with us and with me.
“For me, he is a fantastic guy, an even more fantastic guy than a player. I told him bye with a huge hug and a small tear but now it’s a new chapter here with Nicolas Jackson. A new chapter, we replace him and of course all the best to Watkins in Saudi. With Nicolas Jackson replacing him, we are of course happy.”
Watkins leaves as Villa’s record Premier League-era scorer: 91 goals in 221 league appearances. That kind of output usually guarantees hero status. One refusal to play can test it.
Emery, though, pushed back on the idea that Watkins has damaged his legacy.
“The four years working with him have been a high-level relationship with him as a professional,” he said. “Last week I was a little bit disappointed. I was disappointed, but we spoke about it, and now clear. One mistake is not closing all the good things he did here. For the supporters as well. He is class, and I think it’s a legacy here.”
Villa’s reset before Arsenal
The emotional farewell now gives way to a brutal reality: Arsenal at home, with Villa coming off a heavy defeat and still trying to bed in major changes.
Emery knows standards must rise sharply to avoid back-to-back losses.
“Maybe we are not performing like we were performing but the objective is to get to the same way we did, the same performances we had,” he said. “We will need time. Last year we showed we needed time. On Monday we will see, [whether] we will need more time or if some players are progressing quickly.”
Leon Goretzka, signed from Bayern Munich on Thursday, is in line for a debut against the champions. Goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, a £30m arrival from Parma, could also feature for the first time with Emiliano Martínez close to sealing a £7.5m move to Chelsea.
So Villa head into a marquee fixture with a new striker incoming, a new midfielder ready, and a new goalkeeper waiting in the wings. The core of Emery’s side is being rebuilt on the fly.
Chelsea brace for late-window chaos
While Villa reshape, Chelsea are bracing for a frantic finish to the window of their own.
As they close on Martínez, the London club have explored a move for Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara while they wait for Manchester City to finally make a formal bid for Enzo Fernández. For now, City have not contacted Chelsea, even though Fernández is desperate to leave before Tuesday night’s deadline.
Chelsea are drawing up contingencies. Camara features on a shortlist that also includes Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton. The Senegal international would not be a like-for-like replacement for Fernández but would bolster Xabi Alonso’s midfield if the Argentina international gets his move to the champions.
Chelsea know the scale of the task. Bournemouth are determined to keep Scott. Palace have sent the same message over Wharton. Arsenal, meanwhile, are understood to have rejected an enquiry for Martín Zubimendi.
Any Fernández deal will be eye-watering. Suggestions have hovered around the £106.7m mark, but Chelsea will only sanction his exit if their conditions are met. Sources have warned City they may have to go beyond the club’s initial £120m asking price for the 25-year-old.
So, as Villa prepare to unveil Jackson and test themselves against Arsenal, Chelsea sit at the centre of another late-window storm, holding firm on their valuation and waiting to see just how far City are willing to go.
