Aston Villa are considering moves for both Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson this summer, though they are expected to pursue only one of the players, according to a report in The Athletic. This comes as Villa are set to finalise the sale of Morgan Rogers to Chelsea for a reported £117 million.
The significant fee received for Rogers is intended to fund Villa’s recruitment drive, with Unai Emery seeking reinforcements in attack. Villa have already been active in the transfer window, bringing in Johan Manzambi for a club-record €70 million and Joao Gomes from Wolverhampton Wanderers, while also selling several players including Youri Tielemans.
Villa’s interest in Garnacho has reportedly led to talks between the clubs, with Chelsea valuing the young winger at £45 million. Jackson, who recently returned to Chelsea after a loan spell at Bayern Munich, is priced at £60 million. Emery is known to be a long-standing admirer of Jackson, having previously worked with him at Villarreal.
The Athletic reports that Villa’s strategy of selling Rogers to Chelsea, rather than Arsenal, was partly motivated by a desire to strengthen their position in negotiations for Garnacho and Jackson. While Villa are keen on both players, a double swoop is considered unlikely. They are also monitoring West Ham’s Cryscensio Summerville and Paris Saint-Germain’s Ibrahim Mbaye as potential winger options.
Jackson’s return to Chelsea means the club are open to offers, and Villa’s financial position following the Rogers sale makes them a viable destination. Garnacho, meanwhile, has established himself as a promising talent at Manchester United, but could be tempted by increased playing time at Villa Park. The potential arrival of either player would bolster Villa’s attacking options as they prepare for another season of European football.
