Aston Villa Targeting €80m Rated Striker As Watkins’ Replacement: Is He A Good Choice? | OneFootball

Aston Villa are going through days where they have to take some key decisions in attack. The Birmingham side have made steady progress in the Premier League, but know they need fresh firepower to stay in the top half. Ollie Watkins has been instrumental with his goals and presence up top, but his continuity has raised doubts as other clubs have been looking to sign him. Faced with this scenario, the club are planning to avoid surprises. According to A Bola, quoted by Sport Witness, the club have set their sights on Samu Aghehowa, a 21-year-old striker who is playing for FC Porto. The option does not come cheap, but the Villans value his potential.

Aston Villa Targeting Samu Aghehowa As Watkins’ Replacement

Every decision influences the next. If Watkins leaves this summer, the plan to secure the signing of Samu will start with a bang. FC Porto will not give away their attacker easily. His price will range between €70-80 million, a figure that reflects both his recent performance and his potential. Aghehowa exploded after his loan spell at Deportivo Alaves and his definitive move to Porto in August 2024 has established him as a potent striker.

At 21, he already knows what it’s like to win an Olympic gold medal with Spain in Paris. Samu’s numbers are impressive: 27 goals and three assists in 45 games for the Dragons. Aston Villa are clear that his profile would fit in a team that needs to ensure goals and mobility in the attacking third. Watkins sets the pace for this possible operation. If he stays, Aghehowa will not be approached by Villa. If the Englishman leaves, Emery will want to have the replacement ready.

A worthwhile signing?

It’s not all about paying astronomical sums. We have to see if Samu Aghehowa is capable of shining in the Premier League and, above all, fits in Unai Emery’s tactics. In our opinion, the Spaniard would be a very interesting reinforcement. Samu’s age allows him to grow with an expanding project. He possesses a potent goal-scoring instinct and works hard off the ball which Emery values highly. Samu’s time in LaLiga and the Portuguese league has forged him in two demanding environments.

In addition, his competitive nature was evident at the Olympic Games. 80 million seems a high sum, but Villa know that the market for strikers does not offer guaranteed bargains. His signing, if Watkins leaves, would allow the team to avoid a drop in the level of attack. There is no certainty of success, but the gamble can be taken. Today, Villa has the base to compete in Europe, and Samu could be the player who keeps that ambition alive in the future. However, they will certainly look to get that value down below 60 million.