Aston Villa backed to hijack Ivan Toney transfer in last-ditch move
Bryan King would prefer Aston Villa to make a move for Ivan Toney rather than Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson.
The ex-Villa scout feels that Unai Emery’s side need another quality number-nine at the club.
As reported by CaughtOffside (27 August), Villa are open to the idea of signing a striker in a last-minute deal, with Jackson among their preferred options.
According to the Evening Standard (28 August), Chelsea remain front-runners to sign Brentford’s Toney.
And King – speaking exclusively to Villa News – has urged Aston Villa to step in and sign the England international, rather than make a move for Jackson.
“There is talk that Toney could be going to Chelsea,” King said.
“It will be interesting to see how much money the Blues are going to pay Brentford for him.
“Usually a player like that would be worth £60million. However, he might end up leaving Brentford for as little as £30million.
“I’d sooner Aston Villa signed Toney than Jackson. A player like Toney wouldn’t be amiss at Villa. There has been a lot of promise with Jackson but he doesn’t seem to have cut the mustard at Chelsea.
“If he is available, and the money is right, Villa are going to be interested in a striker because Ollie Watkins is their sole quality option up front.”
Aston Villa to sign Ivan Toney ahead of Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson?
It seems as though the final few days of the transfer window could be something of a Premier League merry-go-round.
Chelsea want to sign Toney, while Villa are looking at Chelsea’s Jackson. However, if Emery’s side were to instead sign Toney, it would land something of a double-transfer blow to their Premier League rivals.
Not only would the club be taking one of the Blues’ top targets, but they would also be denying them the sale of Jackson in the process.
Therefore, instead of signing Jackson and funding Chelsea’s move for Toney, Villa should look to go out and sign the 28-year-old – who is arguably better than Jackson anyway – instead.
In other Aston Villa news, the club could pay over the odds to seal a last-ditch transfer.
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