Aston Villa could see £60m bid accepted to sign a dream Watkins replacement

The excitement is palpable at Aston Villa. This is it, the big week, where 30 years of searching for silverware could be turned on its head.

After all, the Europa League final is Unai Emery‘s favourite grand stage, having won the second-grade continental competition a record-breaking four times (3x Sevilla, 1x Villarreal).

After a dismal start to the season, the Villans failing to score across their first four Premier League games of the season and failing to win any of the opening five, it looked like the Emery project was grinding to a halt, but this manager is nothing if not persistent, and now this could end as the outfit’s greatest campaign in many years.

It was a monumental day. Liverpool put to the sword, Ollie Watkins at the double, that sweet sonorous Champions League tune sang across Villa Park, and now, NSWE know they have the financial muscle and the sporting project to bring over exciting players in the transfer window.

Aston Villa learn bid will be accepted for Premier League striker

Watkins looked to have petered out at Aston Villa this season, but he has hit a rich vein of form at the business end of the season to emphasise his everlasting prolific edge.

Never injured, always scoring. But nothing lasts forever, and while the 30-year-old will expect to play Champions League football at Villa Park next term, he is entering the penultimate year of his contract, and the rumour mill is already spinning.

As per The i Paper, Aston Villa have learned that a £60m bid could be enough to convince Newcastle United to part with William Osula this summer, with the Magpies’ financial concerns impeding them.

Osula, 22, has emerged as Newcastle’s most prolific striker over the past several months, but Everton are also hot on his trail, and given that the Toffees desperately need a new No. 9 this summer, Emery will need to act quickly.

Why Osula can be Aston Villa’s next Watkins

The Villans only signed Tammy Abraham in January, but this could be a rare opportunity to sign Watkins’ future successor in time for him to learn from the experienced England international over the next year or two.

Osula wasn’t at the races last season. After joining Newcastle from Sheffield United for £15m in 2024, the Danish U21 striker scored once across 14 Premier League games, starting one.

This year, he’s come on leaps and bounds, levels above that erstwhile level. Across his past eight Premier League matches, Osula has scored six goals, with only six of those games being starts.

Improvements in front of goal are confirming what Howe knew all along: Osula is “the complete package“, and it was a relief that his nearly-transfer to Eintracht Frankfurt last summer didn’t happen. Hailed for his “bully-like” physical presence by Como scout Ben Mattinson, he has all the attributes to become a superstar.

Now, though, Newcastle are in a different position, unable to find the form to lift them back into Europe. The ramifications will be felt on Tyneside, and Aston Villa will be there to take advantage.

Watkins is far from finished. The England star spoke after his almighty performance against Liverpool that he has used detractors as motivation, still firing for one of the most impressive teams in Europe.

Emery will need his talisman over the coming year, but Osula could be the perfect foil. He’s on the rise, and with a 30% conversion rate in the top flight this season, he’s one of the most accurate strikers around.

Osula’s data pool might be shallow, but it is suggestive of world-class potential. No Premier League player who has scored nine or more goals this season can match that percentage, with Watkins’ conversion rate standing at 18%. He has scored 14 goals, but he has also missed 19 big chances.

Aston Villa have come a long way under Emery’s management, and even if they get their hands on the Europa League trophy, there will be a hunger and a determination to hit even higher beats over the coming years.

Osula can make it happen, lacing Watkins’ boots.