Unai Emery on Nicolas Jackson's Role at Aston Villa

Unai Emery believes Nicolas Jackson will be in place to lead Aston Villa’s attack against Arsenal on Monday – and he is treating the Chelsea striker’s imminent arrival as the start of a “new chapter” at the club.

Jackson, whose £47.5m switch from Stamford Bridge could rise to a club‑record £65m with add-ons, has been Emery’s first-choice target to replace Ollie Watkins. Villa’s Premier League-era record goalscorer has turned down a new contract and is heading for a £50m move to Al‑Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. Neither transfer has been formally confirmed, but the shape of Villa’s future is already clear.

Emery’s tearful farewell to Watkins

Watkins’s exit has cut deep. Emery admitted the England forward’s departure left him in tears and revealed the striker apologised to the squad after refusing to play in last weekend’s 4-0 defeat at Brighton, a decision that left Villa without a recognised centre-forward.

“I can tell you his commitment and his behaviour was fantastic always,” Emery said. “He told us after the match he was sorry and he told us that he made a mistake, that he was wrong. We accepted it, the players as well, because he always had very good behaviour and commitment with the club, with us and with me.

“For me, he is a fantastic guy, an even more fantastic a guy than a player. I told him bye with a huge hug and a small tear but now it’s a new chapter here with Nicolas Jackson. A new chapter, we replace him and of course all the best to Watkins in Saudi. With Nicolas Jackson replacing him, we are of course happy.”

Watkins leaves as a modern Villa great: 91 goals in 221 league appearances, the benchmark in the club’s Premier League history. Emery rejected the idea that the striker’s refusal to play at Brighton would stain that legacy.

“The four years working with him have been a high-level relationship with him as a professional,” the Villa manager said. “Last week I was a little bit disappointed. I was disappointed, but we spoke about it, and now clear. One mistake is not closing all the good things he did here. For the supporters as well. He is class, and I think it’s a legacy here.”

New faces, old standards

Villa now have to move on quickly. Arsenal, the champions, arrive on Monday, and Emery knows his side cannot repeat the level they showed on the south coast.

“Maybe we are not performing like we were performing but the objective is to get to the same way we did, the same performances we had,” he said. “We will need time. Last year we showed we needed time. On Monday we will see, [whether] we will need more time or if some players are progressing quickly.”

Leon Goretzka, signed from Bayern Munich on Thursday, could be thrown straight in for his debut. So could goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, the £30m signing from Parma who is lined up to replace Emiliano Martínez. The Argentina World Cup winner is close to completing a £7.5m move to Chelsea, another piece in a frantic end to the window.

Chelsea brace for Enzo pressure

Chelsea’s business is far from done. As they close on Martínez, they have also explored a deal for Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara while they wait for Manchester City to formalise their interest in Enzo Fernández.

City have yet to make official contact over Fernández, but the midfielder is desperate to leave before Tuesday night’s deadline. Chelsea are weighing their options and have Camara on a shortlist that also includes Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton. The Senegal international would not be a like-for-like replacement for Fernández but is viewed as a player who could bolster Xabi Alonso’s midfield if the Argentina international does move to the champions.

Chelsea know they are in for a fight. Bournemouth have made clear they do not want to sell Scott, and Palace have taken the same stance over Wharton. Arsenal are understood to have rejected an enquiry for Martín Zubimendi, closing off another avenue.

The Fernández saga looms over it all. Talk around the deal has hovered near the £106.7m mark, but Chelsea will only sanction a sale on their terms. Sources have warned that City may have to go beyond the west London club’s initial £120m asking price for the 25-year-old.

If City push that far, Villa will not be the only club starting a new chapter by the time the window slams shut.