Aston Villa have turned their attention to Bayer Leverkusen’s Christian Kofane as a possible replacement for Ollie Watkins, who has expressed a desire to join Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal. According to The Athletic, Villa have made an approach to Leverkusen regarding the 20-year-old striker, though the Bundesliga club are reluctant to part with him.
Villa’s interest in Kofane predates his move to Leverkusen last summer, and the forward enjoyed a promising debut season in Germany, scoring seven goals and providing nine assists across 44 matches in all competitions. Despite contact between the clubs, Leverkusen are keen to retain the young talent.
This renewed pursuit for a striker follows the rejection of a £45million offer for Watkins. Alongside Kofane, Villa have identified Crystal Palace’s Jean-Phillipe Mateta and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson as potential targets. However, the offer for Mateta was notably below Palace’s £25m valuation, and Villa are also considering AC Milan’s Rafael Leao and Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee, as they explore multiple attacking options.
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Of the potential recruits, Jackson appears the most feasible signing as Chelsea are keen to sell the Senegalese forward permanently, reportedly seeking around £65m after significant player sales.
In parallel with their recruitment drive, Aston Villa have sanctioned notable departures, with Youri Tielemans, Ezri Konsa, and Morgan Rogers leaving for other Premier League clubs. These sales generated over £200m, facilitating the arrivals of Joao Gomes, Johan Manzambi, and Matteo Ruggeri.
The club has also secured loan deals for Alejandro Garnacho and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, both expected to become permanent signings at season’s end. Garnacho made his debut as a substitute in Villa’s heavy defeat to Brighton, a match marked by early setbacks including a red card and a four-goal deficit within 40 minutes.
Gomes had a difficult debut and will now miss the next three Premier League games due to suspension, adding further challenges for manager Unai Emery as the team navigates these turbulent times.