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Aston Villa are close to finalising the signing of Ivory Coast international Evann Guessand from French club Nice in a deal worth £30.5 million, a move that could pave the way for Ollie Watkins to leave Villa Park this summer. The England striker has been the subject of transfer speculation since the start of the summer window, with top clubs including Manchester United showing interest in his services.

WHAT HAPPENED?

As per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Villa have reached a verbal agreement with Nice for the transfer of their 24-year-old attacker Guessand. The Premier League outfit are set to pay €30 million (£26m/$34.6m) plus an additional €5 million in potential bonuses. The Ligue 1 side have reportedly permitted the player to travel for his medical ahead of completing the move.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

While Villa have yet to make a final decision on Watkins’ future, reports indicate that the club could be open to offers in the range of £40 million to £50 million ($66 million) for the England international forward. Such a move would represent a significant change in Emery’s attacking setup if Watkins were to depart.

DID YOU KNOW?

According to a report published by The Sun on Tuesday, Watkins believes “the time is right to leave Villa Park” after scoring 87 goals for the club over five seasons. The striker is reportedly “keen” on a move to Manchester United as he seeks a new challenge.

WHAT NEXT FOR ASTON VILLA?

Unai Emery’s men will return to action on Wednesday when they face AS Roma in a pre-season friendly at home, providing a chance for the team to fine-tune their preparations ahead of the new Premier League campaign.