Over recent years, Aston Villa have taken huge strides to cement their place as a Premier League club once again after promotion from the Championship back in 2019.
The Villans endured numerous bottom-half finishes under the likes of Steven Gerrard and Dean Smith, but the arrival of Unai Emery completely changed the club’s fortunes for the better.
The Spaniard has led the club to three separate European finishes since his arrival in the West Midlands, with the prospect of a fourth firmly on the cards at present.
He could even secure another European trophy come the end of the current campaign, with his side already qualifying for the last 16 of the Europa League.
However, if he is to lead the Villans to European glory in 2025/26, he will need numerous players to be on top form to try and provide the goods within the final third.
How good have Aston Villa’s strikers been in 2025/26
Just like he has done for many years, striker Ollie Watkins has once again been Villa’s leading talisman this campaign, with the Englishman currently sitting as joint-top league scorer.
The 30-year-old has posted a 43% shot-on-target accuracy alongside his tally of eight goals, which ranks him in the top 20% of all other centre-forwards in the league this campaign.
He’s also completed 0.9 successful dribbles per 90, along with 5.7 touches in the opposition box per 90, with both also placing him within the top 25% of strikers in the division.
However, Watkins now has huge competition for the starting role at Villa Park, after the return of former loanee Tammy Abraham in January – who joined from Besiktas for a reported £18m.
The 28-year-old has wasted no time in impressing during his second spell in the West Midlands, subsequently netting against Newcastle United in the FA Cup last weekend.
He’s also managed to win 43% of his aerial battles since arriving, placing him in the top 25% of all players in the league, which has handed Emery an added focal point at the top end of the pitch.
Aston Villa already sold an Abraham & Malen upgrade
Despite the impressive form of the aforementioned duo, Emery will be unable to call on the services of Donyell Malen if he is to once again secure another European tour for Villa.
The Dutchman netted seven goals in his 29 appearances during the first half of the current campaign, but it wasn’t enough to secure his long-term future.
He was shipped out on loan to Italian side AS Roma for the remainder of the campaign, with his new side also having the option to make the deal permanent in the summer.
However, such a move has allowed the 27-year-old to recapture his incredible goalscoring form, as seen by his tally of five goals in his first five league appearances for the club.
However, Malen isn’t the only former player currently lighting up Italy’s top-flight, with former talisman Keinan Davis finding his feet after leaving the Villans.
The 28-year-old came through the ranks in the West Midlands, subsequently making 86 senior appearances over a six-year period, but only managing to find the net on six occasions.
An impressive loan spell at Nottingham Forest, which saw him net five times in 18 matches, could have catapulted him back into the senior ranks, but he would depart on a permanent basis just 12 months later.
Davis would join Italian side Udinese for a reported £2m, but such a deal now looks to be a mistake, with the Englishman producing some incredible numbers in Serie A.
The 2025/26 season has been his best to date since leaving Villa, subsequently finding the net seven times in the league already this campaign – the most of any player in Udinese’s squad.
He’s even netted three times in his last six outings under Kosta Runjac, with his underlying stats also showcasing why he’s currently a better option than Malen and Abraham.
Davis, who’s been dubbed “unbelievable” by former teammate Jack Grealish, has achieved a 0.42 goal per 90 rate to date, whilst creating 1.3 chances per 90 this campaign.
|
Keinan Davis – Serie A stats (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Tally |
|
Games played |
22 |
|
Goals & assists |
10 |
|
Goals per 90 |
0.42 |
|
Chances created |
1.3 |
|
Shot on target accuracy |
42% |
|
Aerials won |
2.6 |
|
Dribbles completed |
72% |
|
Pass accuracy |
77% |
The aforementioned figures showcase his all-round quality in the final third, with both of the stats massively above the levels produced by the other attackers.
He’s also completed 72% of the dribbles he’s attempted this campaign, whilst winning 2.6 of his aerial duels per 90 – which dither showcases his all-round talent within attacking areas.
Davis’ other tallies, such as 2.2 fouls won and 77% pass accuracy, are also higher than those produced by Malen and Abraham, which reaffirms why he’s currently a better option than the pair in 2026.
Letting him depart the club for just £2m now looks to be a huge mistake, with the Englishman showcasing why the club made the wrong call in allowing him to leave in 2023.
It’s no doubt great to see the former academy star finding his feet in Europe’s top-five leagues, but it’s a bitter blow that he’s doing so away from the West Midlands.
There’s real hope that Abraham can deliver the goods after his own return, but questions could certainly be asked by the fans if he fails to produce the goods, just like Davis.
Aston Villa have already signed Emery’s next Morgan Rogers for just £11m
Aston Villa have hit the jackpot on a number of shrewd signings in recent years.