Aston Villa’s rise under the leadership of Unai Emery in recent seasons has been nothing short of remarkable, with the club now challenging for European football.
The Spaniard took over with the Villans firmly placed in mid-table, but helped turn the first-team squad into a team to be reckoned with in the Premier League.
He has led the team to top-six finishes in the past two seasons in the top flight, and hopes of finishing third in Europe in a row are now on the cards.
However, despite the success under the Spaniard, a big summer transfer window could be on the cards, with more arrivals and departures on the horizon.
The attacking department is one of the areas that looks to be strengthened as the players are different and are being complained about in the West Midlands.
A few weeks ago, Fulham star Harry Wilson was one of many players linked with a move to Villa during the summer transfer window.
In recent weeks it has been reported that the Wales international will leave the Cottagers this summer, with his current deal expiring at the end of June.
The 29-year-old is one of the hottest spots in the division at the moment, with the likes of Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United all linked with attempts to land the defender.
However, Wilson is not the only striker currently being targeted by the club’s management, with Swansea City star Zan Vipotnik another player being tipped ahead of the summer.
According to TEAMtalk, the Villans have already approached the Championship side about a move for the 24-year-old, who has scored 20 goals this season.
The report also claims that the likes of Brighton and Hove Albion, Coventry City and Leeds United are also looking for a move to get the talisman in form during the off-season.
While this article does not say how much the Slovenian’s deal could cost this window, Vitor Matos’ side are in a strong position after signing the player to a new contract last month.
Why Vipotnik would be the perfect Watkins
Over the past few seasons, there’s no denying that centre-forward Ollie Watkins has been one of the reasons Villa have been successful under manager Emery.
The Englishman has scored 44 goals in two full seasons under the Spaniard, which has led to him becoming a regular in the England national team set-up.
However, the current campaign has been one to forget for the 30-year-old, with just 10 goals in his 43 appearances so far – his worst return since joining the club in 2020.
His struggles have led to speculation over his long-term future at Villa Park, and the management may want to invest in further reinforcements this summer.
It is unclear whether the board will be able to replace the fan favorite during the summer, but they could find a good place by moving Vipotnik this summer.
The 24-year-old has been a great option for the Swans so far this season – as evidenced by his 20 league goals from 39 appearances so far.
The aforementioned figures are the highest of any player in England’s second division this season, Haji Wright is the second highest goalscorer, but behind with four goals from 16.
|
Championship Top Scorers (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
The player |
Goals |
|
Zan Vipotnik |
20 |
|
Haji Wright |
16 |
|
Jack Clarke |
14 |
|
Joe Gelhardt |
13 |
|
Ollie McBurnie |
13 |
|
Brandon Thomas-Asante |
12 |
|
Kieffer Moore |
11 |
|
Morgan Whittaker |
11 |
He will emulate Watkins by moving to Villa Park from the second-tier outfit, with such a move allowing the Villans to secure their next English signing.
Apart from his goals, Vipotnik has also produced impressive statistics, many of which make him ready to jump to the Premier League.
The Slovenian, called “amazing” by journalist Stuart James, has registered 1.1 shots on target out of 90 – while also achieving a 38% shot on target accuracy rate.
The aforementioned stats rank him in the top 10% of players in the division, highlighting the threat he carries when inside the final third.
He’s also created 0.3 chances in 90 this week, which puts him in 16% of strikers in the Championship – a number that could see him create others alongside his goal-scoring ability.
Vipotnik may be the focus of attention for Emery’s side at the moment, with the 24-year-old managing to win 2.1 aerial battles out of 90 this campaign.
Although it is unclear how much the Swansea striker’s deal will cost this summer, it is clear that he is a player capable of making the jump to the Premier League.
He could be a suitable replacement for Watkins at Villa Park this summer – a sad prospect, but a decision that needs to be made in the best interests of the club.
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