Aston Villa ‘Make Approach’ to Sign £55m Striker – Report | OneFootball

Aston Villa Sound Out Porto Striker Samu Aghehowa in £55m Transfer Enquiry

Aston Villa have made an approach over a summer move for Porto striker Samu Aghehowa, with a formal enquiry lodged for the highly rated Spanish international, according to Sky Sports, citing the Daily Mail. Villa’s intent to bolster their attacking options ahead of a crucial campaign signals a clear ambition from Unai Emery to build a squad capable of sustaining challenges across all fronts.

Aghehowa’s Rising Profile in Europe

At just 22 years old, Samu Aghehowa has already shown flashes of world-class potential. Last season, he notched 19 goals and three assists in 30 league appearances for Porto. Those numbers are impressive in isolation but become even more significant when factoring in his performances in European competition. He scored six goals in the Europa League, tying for the second-highest total in the tournament, including a memorable brace against Manchester United.

With just two caps for Spain to his name so far, Aghehowa is still on the rise internationally. However, his domestic and continental form has clearly placed him on the radar of several top clubs, with Aston Villa now making their interest known.

Photo: IMAGO

Porto’s Price Tag Mirrors Arsenal Deal

Porto, under the stewardship of returning manager Andre Villas-Boas, are reportedly holding firm on their valuation of Aghehowa. As per Sky Sports, “the Portuguese club will reportedly not listen to offers less than £55m,” a figure benchmarked against the fee Arsenal paid for Viktor Gyokeres earlier this window.

This strong stance suggests Porto are under no financial pressure to sell and value Aghehowa as a centrepiece of their squad. Villas-Boas appears to be using recent transfer activity as a guide, stating that clubs seeking top-tier talent must now “pay the going rate in this market.”

Villa’s Ambitions Under Emery

Unai Emery has already made it clear that Aston Villa will not stand still after qualifying for the Champions League. The Midlands club have made a statement in recent windows, securing deals that align with Emery’s high-intensity and tactically precise football. An explosive forward like Aghehowa would fit neatly into the Spaniard’s setup, especially with Villa expected to balance domestic and European fixtures.

Villa’s interest is in line with the club’s recent trend of targeting players with both experience and room for development. Aghehowa ticks both boxes, combining top-flight experience with clear potential for further growth under Emery’s guidance.

What Next for Aghehowa and Villa?

While this remains an initial enquiry, it is a situation worth watching closely. With Champions League football now part of the picture, Villa have added leverage in attracting players of Aghehowa’s calibre. Whether they meet Porto’s valuation or seek alternatives remains to be seen, but this move signals a bold intent that could define the remainder of Villa’s summer window.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

As an Aston Villa supporter, this potential move for Samu Aghehowa is hugely exciting. We’ve seen what Emery can do when given the right tools, and targeting someone like Aghehowa shows we are thinking big. Six Europa League goals, including two against Manchester United, tells you everything you need to know about his big-game mentality. That kind of fearlessness is exactly what we need in Europe next season.

The reported £55m asking price might cause some hesitation, but if Arsenal are setting that market rate, then it is just the reality of modern transfers. And let’s be honest, with Champions League money coming in and the potential for further squad improvements, why not back Emery with a player who could make the difference in those tight matches?

His goal record speaks for itself, and if he can adapt to the Premier League’s pace, he could become a star at Villa Park. With Ollie Watkins already leading the line, Aghehowa could complement or even rotate with him, giving us more depth and tactical flexibility.

For now, it’s just an enquiry, but this feels like a statement of intent from the club. Emery clearly has a vision, and Aghehowa might just be a central part of it.