Aston Villa eye ‘generational’ £55m-rated Villarreal star Samuel Chukwueze

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Aston Villa are reportedly interested in signing Villarreal star Samuel Chukwueze, who Unai Emery tried to bring to Arsenal during his time as manager of the north London club.

According to AS, Chukwueze is one of three Villarreal players the new Villa manager is trying to bring to the Premier League in January, with Yeremi Pino and Nicolas Jackson also on Emery’s radar as the Spanish manager looks to bolster his attacking options ahead of the second half of the season.

Chukwueze is regarded by many as one of La Liga’s most exciting talents, with the 23-year-old Nigerian international a regular for Villarreal and a key member behind the Yellow Submarine’s UEFA Europa League triumph in 2020 and their run to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals last season.

With a reported release clause of €63m (£55m) as per AS, Nwankwo Kanu once hailed Chukwueze as a ‘generational talent’, and Villa’s latest interest in the Nigerian international isn’t the first time Emery has tried to sign the winger from Villarreal.

The Sun reported back in 2018 that Chukwueze was on Arsenal’s radar in Emery’s first season in charge of the north London side. Yet despite some strong rumours at the time, the Spanish coach was unable to bring the forward to the Emirates Stadium, with Nicolas Pepe joining a year later for a club-record fee.

With three goals and four assists this season for Villarreal, Chukwueze could be quite a solid addition for Villa this summer, and with Emery now having experience with coaching the 23-year-old, the Villa Park side are in a good position to actually sign the Nigerian superstar in the January transfer window.

Villa should go all-out to sign Chukwueze

Attack is quickly evolving into the key area Emery is looking to invest in during the January window, and Chukwueze should be the Villarreal talent that the Spanish manager goes all out to sign given the winger’s experience and potential to become an even better player than he is now.

Whilst £55m is a steep asking price, Villa could land Chukwueze with a lower fee if the board work their transfer magic and Emery can convince his former side to get a good deal, with the player himself likely to be keen on a move to the Premier League.