Villa make contact for Mateta and approach AC Milan for Leao

Aston Villa are preparing for life after Ollie Watkins with a two-pronged approach to the forward line, making initial contact with Crystal Palace over Jean-Philippe Mateta while also engaging AC Milan about Rafael Leão. The moves underline the urgency in Unai Emery’s squad planning as the Premier League’s transfer window tightens, with the Gunners visit to Villa Park looming.

Villa’s Mateta pursuit takes shape

Villa have moved early on Mateta, who remains under contract at Palace until June 2027. The 29-year-old started against Everton on Saturday, playing the full 90 minutes in Palace’s 2-0 defeat. Reports indicate a valuation gap persists between the clubs, but Villa’s interest is long-standing and now formally expressed. With Watkins’ future unsettled, Mateta’s profile fits Emery’s need for a reliable centre-forward capable of linking play and pressing high.

Mateta’s inclusion in Palace’s squad at Goodison Park contrasts with Watkins’ absence from Villa’s match-day list at Brighton, where Emery declined to elaborate beyond “Ask him. I only can answer it by silence.” The striker returned to training on Monday and apologised to teammates, yet the uncertainty persists as Al Hilal push for a deal. Villa’s pursuit of Mateta suggests they are preparing contingencies should Watkins finalise his move to Saudi Arabia.

Leão emerges as a marquee alternative

Villa have also approached AC Milan about signing Rafael Leão, a player who has publicly expressed openness to a move. The Portugal international can operate as a centre-forward or left winger, offering tactical flexibility Emery may value after the Brighton collapse exposed Villa’s forward depth. Last season, Leão scored nine goals and provided three assists in 29 Serie A appearances, numbers that align with the output Rogers delivered in a similar hybrid role.

The window for negotiations is narrowing, with Villa and Milan now in direct contact ahead of the September 1 deadline. Leão’s profile complements Mateta’s profile: one a pure striker option, the other a dynamic wide presence who can invert. Together, they represent a strategic recalibration rather than a direct replacement for Watkins, whose legacy at Villa Park is secure but whose departure would leave a tangible void.

Emery’s squad crisis deepens

The double pursuit comes as Emery’s squad faces its sternest test yet, with Arsenal arriving at Villa Park following a 4-0 reverse at Brighton. The defeat exposed Villa’s threadbare forward options, forcing Emery to deploy Emi Buendía as a false nine in a system that lacked cohesion. Buendía’s deployment underlined the club’s lack of natural strikers, a problem compounded by Watkins’ absence and the uncertainty over his future.

Villa’s transfer activity reflects the scale of the challenge. Beyond Mateta and Leão, reports suggest they remain long-term admirers of Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, though Napoli and other clubs are also in the frame. Jackson’s potential availability is tied to Watkins’ move, creating a domino effect Emery must navigate before the deadline. The manager’s silence on Watkins’ status only amplifies the sense of flux surrounding a squad that has been a European force but now risks becoming a transfer-market casualty.

Villa’s window is closing, and the choices Emery makes in the next 72 hours will shape the club’s trajectory. Mateta offers a pragmatic short-term fix, while Leão represents a statement of intent for a club unwilling to cede ground in the Premier League hierarchy. Either way, the Gunners’ visit will arrive amid a backdrop of flux, with Villa’s identity in flux and their forward line under reconstruction.

Ollie Watkins leaves a legacy few could have predicted when he arrived from Exeter, but his exit to Saudi Arabia risks overshadowing the six years he spent delivering consistency and joy at Villa Park. His final contribution—a brace against Manchester City—remains a reminder of what he brought, even as the club prepares for life without him. Emery’s next moves will determine whether Villa can turn this period of uncertainty into an opportunity, or whether the squad’s fragility becomes the story instead.

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