Aston Villa have opened preliminary discussions with Crystal Palace regarding the possible acquisition of striker Jean-Philippe Matéta, while simultaneously reaching out to AC Milan about the prospect of signing winger Rafael Leão. The club is actively evaluating its attacking options, especially as Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal intensifies its pursuit of forward Ollie Watkins. According to Sky Sports News, Al Hilal have entered negotiations for Watkins and have already seen at least one of their offers turned down by Villa. Watkins was omitted from the matchday squad for the 4-0 loss to Brighton on Sunday.
When asked by Sky Sports for an explanation, Villa manager Unai Emery responded cryptically: "Ask him. I can only answer with silence." Subsequent reports indicate that the England international returned to training on Monday and offered an apology to his teammates for his unexplained absence. Matéta, who has a single year remaining on his contract with Palace, has been on Villa's radar since at least the winter window.
The 29-year-old featured for Palace in their 2-0 defeat to Everton over the weekend. Sources suggest a valuation gap between Villa and Palace could be a stumbling block in finalising a deal for the French forward.
Meanwhile, Villa's interest in Leão appears genuine, with the Portuguese winger reportedly open to a move to the Premier League. Negotiations between the two clubs are expected to progress swiftly, aiming to reach a consensus before the transfer deadline on September 1.
Leão, versatile enough to operate as a central striker or on the left flank, recorded nine goals and three assists in 29 Serie A appearances last season. His ability to play across the front line makes him an attractive target for a Villa side seeking to replace the creative output of departing players such as Morgan Rogers.
In addition to Leão, Villa have long admired Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson, who is expected to depart the Blues before the deadline and is also attracting interest from Napoli and other European clubs. Sky Sports previously reported that Villa would consider signing Jackson if Watkins were to move to Al Hilal. Patrick Rowe of Sky Sports highlighted that Villa were forced to improvise in attack during their heavy defeat to Brighton, deploying Emi Buendía and Ross Barkley as makeshift forwards.
Watkins' uncertain future left a void, while Tammy Abraham and 17-year-old Brian Madjo were sidelined with injuries. Emery has watched his Europa League-winning squad unravel over the summer, with departures including Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa, and the potential exits of Watkins and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez looming.
The club faces a pressing need to reinforce its ranks before the September 1 deadline. Leão would not be a routine signing; the 27-year-old has been linked with a Premier League move for some time and could provide the flexibility Villa lack after Rogers' departure.
Capable of playing as a centre‑forward, second striker or left winger, Leão would emulate Rogers' dynamic presence, offering the ability to drive at defenses and threaten goals from multiple positions. Although his market value has dipped recently, Emery’s track record of revitalising players—most notably Marcus Rashford—suggests he could unlock Leão's potential.
Villa can promise Champions League exposure, a guaranteed starting role and a prominent platform in the Premier League, while Leão would give Emery a high‑quality reinforcement to fill the star‑level gap left by recent exits. Such a deal would be mutually beneficial, aligning the ambitions of both the player and the club.
Former AC Milan and Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begović weighed in on Sky Sports, praising the potential move: "This would be fantastic news for Villa fans. Rafael Leão would be an incredible signing. I've played with him and seen his pace, power and skill.
He is perfectly suited to the Premier League. His development at Milan, surrounded by senior talent, was solid, but managerial changes have affected his consistency. Working with Emery at Villa could give him the stability and platform he needs to become a mainstay." In summary, Aston Villa are juggling multiple transfer targets as they seek to rebuild after a turbulent summer.
The club's pursuit of Matéta and Leão reflects a strategic push to bolster their attacking options, while the potential departure of Watkins to Al Hilal adds another layer of complexity. With the deadline looming, Villa must navigate valuation disagreements, player preferences and competing offers to assemble a squad capable of competing at the highest level in England and Europe.