Unai Emery Prepares Aston Villa for New Chapter with Nicolas Jackson

Unai Emery says Aston Villa are ready to turn the page.

The manager expects Nicolas Jackson to complete his £47.5m move from Chelsea in time to face Arsenal on Monday night, and believes the Senegal forward’s arrival will signal what he called a “new chapter” for the club.

Jackson has been Emery’s first-choice target to replace Ollie Watkins, whose era at Villa is ending in messy, emotional fashion. Watkins has rejected a new contract and is set for a £50m move to Al‑Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, with both transfers still awaiting formal confirmation. Jackson’s deal could climb to a club‑record £65m with add-ons.

Watkins’s exit has clearly hit Emery hard. The Spaniard admitted he was reduced to tears and revealed the England striker apologised to the squad after refusing to play in last weekend’s 4-0 defeat at Brighton, a decision that left Villa without a recognised centre-forward.

“I can tell you his commitment and his behaviour was fantastic always,” Emery said. “He told us after the match he was sorry and he told us that he made a mistake, that he was wrong. 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 a 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 goalscorer, with 91 goals in 221 league appearances, and Emery rejected the notion that the manner of his departure will stain his reputation among supporters.

“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.”

Attention now turns quickly to Arsenal and the need for a reaction. The Brighton collapse has sharpened the focus. Emery knows a repeat will not be forgiven against the champions.

“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.”

He may throw two new signings straight into that test. Leon Goretzka, signed from Bayern Munich on Thursday, is in line for a debut, while goalkeeper Zion Suzuki could also feature after his £30m move from Parma, with Emiliano Martínez close to sealing a £7.5m switch to Chelsea.

Chelsea, for their part, are braced for a frantic finish to the window. As they move towards completing a deal for Martínez, they are also working through midfield options while they wait for Manchester City to make their move for Enzo Fernández.

City have yet to make formal contact over Fernández, but the Argentina international is desperate to leave before Tuesday night’s deadline. Chelsea are weighing their response and have drawn up a shortlist headed by Monaco’s Lamine Camara, with Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton also under consideration.

Camara, a Senegal international, is not viewed as a like-for-like replacement for Fernández but as a player who would deepen Xabi Alonso’s midfield options if City prise the 25-year-old away from west London.

Chelsea know it will not be straightforward. Bournemouth have made clear they do not want to sell Scott, while Palace have delivered the same message over Wharton. Arsenal are also understood to have rejected an enquiry for Martín Zubimendi.

Any deal for Fernández will be eye-watering. Suggestions have circled of a fee close to the £106.7m Chelsea paid to sign him, but the club will only sanction his departure if their conditions are met. Sources have indicated City may have to go beyond Chelsea’s initial £120m valuation.

Villa are closing one chapter and opening another. Chelsea and City are still arguing over the price of the next big one.