Aston Villa are keen on a striker dubbed by scouts as “the new Viktor Gyokeres”
Aston Villa are believed to be one of a number of Premier League clubs considering a move for a striker who is being privately evaluated for Arsenal star Viktor Gyokeres.
Unai Emery’s Villa transfer plans this summer
Villa’s transfer window is shaping up to be one of the most active clubs in the Premier League.
Unai Emery and president of football operations, Roberto Olabe, are both working to strengthen the squad currently sitting fourth in the table and in contention for Champions League football, while also exploring potential departures.
Morgan Rogers has emerged as one of the most wanted players in England, with Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Man United all understood to be monitoring the player ahead of the summer.
Ollie Watkins is another subject of speculation over his future, with reports suggesting Villa will consider offers of around £30m for the striker – a figure that seems modest given his output over the past few years.
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Unai Emery’s team is trying to win the race.
On the incoming side, Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram has been identified as a target, with free agent defender Marcos Senesi another name on the list, while Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Brandt – who is out of contract in the summer – has also been linked.
Villa are planning a move for Swansea City star Zan Vipotnik
Now, TEAMtalk and journalist Graeme Bailey report that Aston Villa are among a group of Premier League clubs who have made a detailed inquiry into Swansea City striker Zan Vipotnik, the Slovenian striker who has become the Championship’s top scorer this season.
Vipotnik joined Swansea on a free transfer from Bordeaux in 2024, having been on the radar of English clubs during his time in France.
After seven goals in the play-off campaign, the 24-year-old, who is valued at around £15m, has scored 22 in all competitions this season and is the top scorer in the division.
Scouts from several clubs are said to have compared the Arsenal striker, calling him “the new Viktor Gyokeres”, and it would not be surprising if he developed into a top striker during his time in the Championship before joining Sporting CP, where he scored 97 goals in 102 games before moving to Arsenal last summer.
Villa have been linked with Newcastle, Everton, Leeds, Brentford and West Ham, all of whom have been scouting the striker.
Within the competition, Coventry and Ipswich – both seeking promotion – are keeping a close eye on the situation.
Swansea moved to tie Vipotnik to a new long-term deal last month, although that decision was understood to have been motivated mainly to protect his transfer fee rather than any prospect of a long-term stay in South Wales.
Despite the lack of a Premier League structure, the Welsh club face a difficult task keeping them beyond the summer.
For Villa, a proven goalscorer at Championship level fits the profile of a low-risk, high-potential player – the kind of signing Emery has shown a desire for during his time in the Midlands.
Aston Villa are entering the race to sign the £120k-a-week star who is set to leave Man Utd.
The Villans have joined the race to land a “spectacular” player.
