Aston Villa are more likely to sign Nottingham Forest star than Nico Williams

Aston Villa are actively looking for new talent in the transfer market as manager Unai Emery aims to strengthen his squad for the upcoming Premier League season.

After an impressive top-four finish, the club are preparing for a demanding campaign, with the potential signing of Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest looking more likely than a move for Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao.

The club’s financial concerns, which had cast a shadow over the 2024/25 season due to potential financial fair play penalties, have been alleviated by the sale of Douglas Luiz to Juventus. This development, along with Moussa Diaby’s expected departure to Al-Ittihad, has positioned Villa to bolster Emery’s attacking options.

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Aston Villa are more likely to secure the signature of Morgan Gibbs-White compared to Nico Williams. While Williams is admired by the club, his anticipated move to Barcelona makes Gibbs-White a more affordable target. The Nottingham Forest standout’s potential transfer fee of over £50m reflects his significant value.

Gibbs-White’s journey to Nottingham Forest began with a record £25m move from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2022. Since then, his exceptional performances have validated the investment, establishing him as a vital player for Forest. His creative flair and combative approach have earned him recognition as one of the best attacking and interior midfielders in the Premier League in terms of progressive passes and aerial duels won.

Gibbs-White’s style of play could greatly benefit a number of Aston Villa players, particularly Ollie Watkins. Under Emery’s guidance, Watkins developed into a well-rounded center forward, scoring 27 goals and providing 13 assists last season. Gibbs-White’s ability to change the course of a game with his technical prowess and tenacity would perfectly complement Watkins’ attacking abilities.

Watkins’ recent achievements, including his instrumental role in propelling England to the finals of the 2024 European Championship, highlight his exceptional quality. With the creative support of Gibbs-White, Watkins would be set to continue his prolific run of form. Gibbs-White’s high rankings in passing in the final third and through balls per 90 minutes further underline his potential impact on Villa’s attacking play.

Although Villa boast a talented roster, they currently lack a player with Gibbs-White’s attributes. Diaby’s early exit leaves a void that Gibbs-White could effectively fill. While Emery’s recent signings of Samuel Iling-Junior and Jaden Philogene have injected energy into the squad, Gibbs-White’s creative qualities would introduce a new dimension to Villa’s attack.

Despite Nico Williams’ impressive showing at Euro 2024, his move to Villa remains unlikely due to wage demands and interest from Barcelona. The situation at the Catalan giants and Williams’ £46m release clause further complicates the prospect of his transfer to Villa Park.