Aston Villa want to be ‘front of queue’ to sign £35m ‘game-changer’

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery wants to be ‘at the front of the queue’ and seal a Villa Park reunion if Samuel Chukwueze looks to leave Villarreal, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Having been appointed as the Midlands giants’ head coach last month, Emery will be handed an opportunity to bolster the squad he inherited when the winter window opens for business in January.

What’s the latest news involving Chukwueze?

According to Football Insider, Villa are plotting a mid-season move for Chukwueze after he has been identified as a top target by Emery.

The report suggests the Spaniard is looking to raid former club Villarreal and the 24-cap Nigeria international, along with central defender Pau Torres, is in his sights.

It is understood that Villa have prioritised adding a versatile attacker to the squad during the fast-approaching January transfer window.

But they are not the only Premier League side showing an interest in Chukwueze as Arsenal and Liverpool are reportedly keen, meaning the bidding could start at £35million.

The winger is set to enter the final 18 months of his Villarreal contract, which is worth close to £31,500-per-week, at the turn of the year.

Read more: January Transfer Window 2023: When Does It Begin, Rumours and Everything You Need To Know

What has Dean Jones said about Chukwueze?

Jones believes Emery is eager to win the race for Chukwueze’s signature and he is desperate to ensure he does not join one of Villa’s Premier League rivals.

The journalist feels the Villans’ head coach will make sure he is in pole position to recruit the 23-year-old if it becomes clear that a move away from Villarreal is a possibility.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “It’s being played up a lot and it seems like he is a player that Emery has clearly got on his radar for January.

“Managers always want to bring in somebody that they recognise and a game-changer is, obviously, something they all look for too. It comes hand-in-hand with an appointment like this, that they’ll be looking for someone like Chukwueze.

“He won’t want him to go anywhere else either. If he’s actually going to make a transfer, they want to be at the front of the queue.”

Would Chukwueze be a good signing for Villa?

Although Chukwueze has been starved of La Liga starts during the first half of the season, he has still notched five goals and six assists in all competitions.

That shows he would give Villa a cutting edge in the final third of the pitch and there is no doubt that Emery, who headed back to the Premier League after the Midlands side paid the £5.25million release clause written into his Villarreal contract, would know how to get the best out of him.

Chukwueze made 94 appearances under Emery and was productive, racking up 29 goal contributions along the way.

He has been particularly dangerous in the Europa Conference League, finding the back of the net every 174 minutes and registering two assists, so Villa should look to pounce.

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